WB I-94 near Belleville to reopen as connected, automated car project takes a break

Westbound Interstate 94's left lane between Belleville and Rawsonville roads in Wayne County may open Friday — weather permitting, state officials said.

"Work to install pavement markings and delineators is nearly complete and will allow all lanes to remain open to the motoring public ahead of the busy holiday travel season," officials said in a Thursday statement.

Michigan's Department of Transportation closed the lane in August as part of a $10 million pilot project to build what it says is the nation's first connected and automated vehicle lane.

The agency is working with a Washington, D.C.-based private technology company called Cavnue to develop the pilot lane.

It said Cavnue is paying for the design, permitting, and construction on I-94 as well as providing the pilot’s digital infrastructure.

MDOT announced the project in 2020. Under the project, the lane will be used to test technologies and systems for electric vehicles and self-driving cars. Cavnue is installing poles with its proprietary set of cameras, radar sensors, and wireless radio equipment.

MDOT said the three-mile stretch of I-94 will close again in mid-January for construction on the project to resume. It also said a high-friction surface treatment will be applied along the project limits in late spring 2024.

Officials said testing will only be done during off-peak hours. Signs will notify drivers the lane is closed to traffic.

Officials also said commuter vehicles traveling in the left lane outside of testing hours will not be able to access the Belleville rest area or the Belleville Road exit because of delineator posts.

Once all the work on the lane is completed and it's operational, testing of connected and automated vehicles will begin, officials said. It's expected to begin in spring 2024 and end in December 2025.

Officials said the goal is to use the findings of the tests to develop a larger, connected corridor along I-94, according to officials.

MDOT is working on an environmental assessment of the full 39-mile CAV corridor.

It is hosting a virtual open house for the public to learn more about the proposed project. Officials are also collecting public input through Jan. 12.

cramirez@detroitnews.com

X: @CharlesERamirez