ANN ARBOR, MI - The Michigan Department of Transportation has announced the construction of a new park and ride lot off U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor.

The new lot will sit about 1,200 feet west of the Eight Mile Road and Whitmore Lake Road roundabout off U.S. 23 in Whitmore Lake, Kari Arend, MDOT communications representative said.

MDOT has announced a new park and ride will be built near US-23 and 8-Mile Road. (Claire Abendroth | Mlive.com)

As part of its U.S. 23 Flex Route project, MDOT has acquired 5.6 acres of land for the 168-space park and ride lot. Six more spaces will be available for handicap parking, Arend said.

The goal is to further ease the amount of traffic between Brighton and Ann Arbor, a route 66,000 vehicles travel each day.

The preliminary plans for the lot include a bus service, provided by The Ride, making four trips to and from Ann Arbor each day.

The Ride bus will stop at MDOT's Brighton Transportation Center and the University of Michigan on football game days as well.

MDOT is funding capital costs and is pursuing a federal grant. An estimated $1.2 million will be used to also widen a portion of Eight Mile Road and add a center-left turn lane to accommodate westbound traffic, Arend said.

The added turn lane is part of a three-year pilot project. Officials will determine after that if it is worth keeping after that time.

The plans for the park and ride lot include lighting and landscaping. The park and ride is expected to be bid out in May and completed prior to Labor Day, Arend said.

Arend said MDOT also plans on expanding the Flex Route project to l-96 in the future, but currently does not have the funds to do so.