Michigan opens country’s first smart highway

Get ready for the roads of the future…literally. From Ann Arbor to Detroit, the country’s first smart highway will soon open in Michigan, and your daily commute will soon feel like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Imagine roads that can communicate with your car to help you arrive safely and on time. Sounds cool, right? Well, it’s almost here.

Get ready, Michigan, because your ride is about to get a lot smarter.

Michigan’s first smart highway site

A three-mile stretch of Interstate 94 is set to be transformed into America’s first smart highway. According to Engadget, the pilot program will take place between Ann Arbor and Detroit.

For now, it will only be a three-mile section, but the plan is to expand the Smart Highway project to about 40 miles in the future. The entire project will stretch from Ann Arbor-Saline Road in Ann Arbor to M-10 in Detroit. The first section (Section 1a) will cover I-94 between US-23 and Oakwood Boulevard.

What can commuters expect on a smart highway?

Commuters on a smart highway can look forward to some cool new features. They’ll get real-time updates on traffic and accidents, and sensors will keep them safe by alerting them to hazards. Traffic will flow better, congestion will be reduced, and cars will be able to communicate with each other to avoid accidents. There will also be charging stations for electric cars and changing speed limits to keep things running smoothly. Overall, smart highways will make driving safer, faster, and easier.

The plan is to begin construction on the first phase after final planning is completed, which follows the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. The NEPA process is expected to take about 12 months. Simply put, it’s unclear at the moment.

Michigan is leading the way.