Los Angeles is the testbed for a futuristic “smart” road stud than can gauge freeway conditions and traffic flow, opening and closing lanes accordingly, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Caltrans has contracted with a New Zealand company to pilot the “dynamic-lane” system on Interstate 110, where traffic backs up in a tunnel at the single-lane connector to northbound Interstate 5. At peak hours, the “smart studs” would illuminate to automatically open a second connector lane on I-110, easing the long lines.

Despite a couple of delays — the $3.2-million project had been set to roll out this month — a Caltrans engineer said it’s on target to launch in November and, if successful, could be installed at other Los Angeles freeway junctions.

Read the full story at the Los Angeles Times.