What Is That Lane on I-94 in Van Buren Township?

If you drive westbound on I-94 through Van Buren Township, you’ve probably noticed it. There’s a lane on the far left that looks different. Digital signs. Sensors mounted on poles in the median. Barriers separating it from the rest of traffic. And if you’re like most people, your first thought was probably something like. What is that?

I had the same reaction.

Here’s what’s actually going on.

That lane is part of what’s being called the world’s most sophisticated roadway. It’s a Connected and Automated Vehicle corridor, a CAV corridor, built through a partnership between the Michigan Department of Transportation and a company called Cavnue. It runs about three miles on westbound I-94, from Belleville Road to Rawsonville Road, right through Van Buren Township.

The concept is pretty forward-thinking. The lane is embedded with radar, sensors, and wireless communication technology. Those poles you see in the median? They’re loaded with equipment that allows the road to essentially communicate with vehicles in real time, tracking what’s around them, detecting hazards, and building a live digital picture of everything happening on that stretch of highway.

Michigan is one of the first states in the country to attempt this at this scale. The pilot launched in 2023 and construction wrapped up in May 2024. It’s currently in its operational phase.

Who’s it designed for? The initial focus is on electric buses, shared transit vehicles, and freight and delivery vehicles. The long-term goal is to expand access to connected personal vehicles as the technology develops. Think of it as a testing ground for how people and goods will move through Southeast Michigan over the next decade.

So it’s not closed. It’s not broken. It’s not some mystery project nobody will explain. It’s Van Buren Township being part of something that hasn’t been done before at this scale in the United States.

And honestly? That’s worth knowing, especially if you’re paying attention to where things are headed in this part of Michigan.

If you’ve been curious about Van Buren Township or want to talk about what the area looks like as a place to put down roots, I’m happy to walk you through it.