Capitol News

The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) is installing temporary electronic signs at entrance ramps along the I-96 Flex Route in Oakland County. The new signs remind drivers to pull all the way up to the white line, or stop bar, when the ramp meter signal is red. This action ensures that sensors are properly triggered to activate the ramp meter signals, which cycle from yellow to red and green.

Ramp metering signals have been installed on eight entrance ramps between Novi and Milford roads. These include:

- Southbound Milford Road to eastbound I-96

- Southbound Milford Road to westbound I-96

- Northbound Milford Road to eastbound I-96

- Wixom Road to westbound I-96

- Southbound Novi Road to eastbound I-96

- Southbound Novi Road to westbound I-96

- Northbound Novi Road to eastbound I-96

- Northbound Novi Road to westbound I-96

According to MDOT, ramp meters are used in many other states as a method for reducing crashes and improving travel times by controlling how traffic enters the freeway. By breaking up groups of vehicles entering at once, it becomes easier for drivers already on the freeway to maintain speed and for merging vehicles to enter smoothly.

A video explaining how ramp meters work has been posted on MDOT’s YouTube channel. Drivers approaching a red ramp meter signal should form two lanes on the ramp, stop at the white line, and wait their turn for a green light before proceeding onto the freeway. Ramp meters will alternate green signals between right and left sides of the ramp, allowing one vehicle at a time onto the freeway.

When freeway traffic is heavy and the ramp meter signal is red, not stopping is considered a traffic violation similar to running a traditional red light. When not active, ramp meters flash yellow and allow normal merging without stopping.

Additional information about freeway ramp metering can be found on the Federal Highway Administration website: https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/fhwahop14020/ch3.htm

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