The state of Michigan has partnered with a company called Cavnue, a subsidiary of Alphabet spinoff company Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP), to build several high-tech roadways to prepare the region for the arrival of autonomous driving vehicles. Officials announced that the new roadways are meant to become the foundation for future smart cities throughout the state.
Under the newly signed agreement, Cavnue will be conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a 40-mile corridor that will effectively connect downtown Detroit to Ann Arbor. The roadway will also have several sections that will lead to frequently visited destinations throughout the city such as the Detroit Metropolitan Airport, the Michigan Central Station and the University of Michigan.
During the first phase of the project, Cavnue will be testing out different technologies that can be utilized in the construction of the new roadways. The company, which was established following the spinoff of SIP from Alphabet's Sidewalk Labs, will also be testing out various roadway designs to accommodate different types of autonomous driving vehicles.
At the testing phase, Cavnue will be collaborating with various automotive manufacturers such as GM, BMW, Ford, Toyota, and fellow Alphabet subsidiary Waymo. Cavnue will work with the automakers to come up with standards for autonomous driving vehicles to efficiently utilize the proposed roadways.
Cavnue revealed that it expects the initial phase of the project to be completed within the next 24 months. This means that it may still be a while until the actual construction of the roadway begins. The company added that it will be vital that it gets the first phase of the project as perfect as possible as the end result could be transformational not only for the state but for the entire country as well.
Michigan officials stated that they are planning for the new roadway to be completely future-proof, which is why it has tasked Cavnue to lead the project. Once it is completed, the first types of autonomous vehicles that will be allowed to use the roadway will be fully autonomous buses. This will then be followed by autonomous cargo vehicles and then personal autonomous vehicles.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer said in a statement that the goal of the project will be to bolster the state's future economy by providing families and businesses with a new way of getting around. She added that it is only fitting for Michigan, known for putting the world on wheels, to take the first steps in building such an infrastructure.
