Michigan and Cavnue Reach Major Milestone for First-of-its-Kind Smart Road on Interstate 94

Detroit — Cavnue, the world’s leading Smart Road developer, today announces agreement on a groundbreaking commercial framework with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to complete delivery of the I-94 Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Corridor between Ann Arbor and Detroit — the nation’s first “Smart Road” — which further solidifies Cavnue’s partnership with MDOT.

Once again Michigan is breaking new ground in the automotive world — in this case, creating the most innovative and advanced smart road in the country, both now and for years to come,” said Cavnue CEO and Co-founder, Tyler Duvall. “This agreement further solidifies our partnership with MDOT, marking a tremendous milestone for the State of Michigan and Cavnue.” "Duvall noted that as the project advances, it will yield tens of millions in private investment and generate thousands of regional jobs in construction, technology, and operations from the full Cavnue platform. - Tyler Duvall, Cavnue Co-Founder and CEO

Following the award of an initial, competitively tendered contract in 2020, Cavnue developed, funded, and constructed an initial three-mile pilot lane along I-94, which opened for traffic in July 2024 and is operating under a two-year testing period. MDOT and Cavnue have agreed to a term sheet for developing a commercial agreement that would enable a phased CAV deployment within the I-94 median over multiple years that will be fully funded, executed, and operated by Cavnue — to include civil infrastructure improvements as the usage of CAVs increases.

Modernizing our highway system is one of MDOT’s top priorities,” said Michigan State Transportation Director,” Brad Wieferich. “The opportunity to leverage new technologies to improve safety and reliability in this critical corridor has never been better. We are excited to continue exploring innovative partnerships with firms like Cavnue to produce better outcomes for everyone in Michigan that relies on roadways like I-94. - Bradley C. Wieferich, Director, Michigan Department of Transportaiton

Through its combination of advanced digital and physical infrastructure — including sensors, advanced wireless communications, edge computing, and a full digital twin of the roadway — the I-94 Smart Road corridor is designed to unlock the full potential and benefits of CAVs, while providing critical insights about the road for MDOT to improve safety and operations. These investments underscore Cavnue’s commitment to fostering economic growth while delivering transformative mobility infrastructure. This project represents a public-private (P3) partnership delivery and operating contract, fully funded and managed by Cavnue.

Roads equipped with Cavnue’s technology are able to notify vehicles of potential safety hazards on the road ahead — such as debris in the roadway, work zones, and stalled vehicles — and help motorists prepare for traffic slowdowns further in advance, potentially relieving congestion, increasing crash avoidance, and lowering emissions. The goal of the project is to offer drivers on I-94 a safer smoother commute.

In addition to communicating with vehicles and motorists, the roadway will be able to communicate traffic incidents to MDOT and emergency responders in real-time, which can improve the operations and maintenance on I-94, while reducing incident response times. Together, these public benefits may create a better operating environment that can be used to support a more reliable and frequent transit service, unlocking new mobility and accessibility opportunities for communities along the corridor.

The Federal Highway Administration and MDOT are undertaking an environmental study of the proposed CAV corridor. Learn more at MDOT’s website.

For more information about the project and pilot, check out Cavnue’s Michigan project page.