Wisconsin DOT’s first Flex Lane recently earned a regional America’s Transportation Award for operations excellence, WMTV reports. The Madison Beltline (US 12/US 18) feature, which opened in July 2022, utilizes the inside median shoulder to ease traffic congestion during peak traffic periods. Wisconsin DOT secretary Craig Thompson said travel times when the lane is open have decreased up to 45 percent, and crashes are down 20 percent from pre-pandemic levels. The national “Top 12” America’s Transportation Awards will be announced next month.