TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

1 . A traffic control system, comprising:

a detector configured to detect a traffic-situation proximate to a host-vehicle, said traffic-situation characterized as inhibiting traffic-flow; and

a controller-circuit configured to communicate with the detector and a traffic-device, said traffic-device operable to indicate a lane-designation of a travel-lane, wherein the controller-circuit is configured to send a request to the traffic-device, said request indicative of a desired-designation of the travel-lane in accordance with a determination by the controller-circuit that the traffic-situation has occurred.

2 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the controller-circuit is configured to operate the host-vehicle in an automated-mode characterized by the controller-circuit steering the host-vehicle.

3 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 2 , further comprising:

in accordance with the lane-designation corresponding to the desired-designation the controller-circuit steering the host-vehicle, in the automated-mode, into the travel-lane.

4 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the traffic-device includes a barrier that blocks access to a restricted-lane of a roadway and the desired-designation includes operation of the barrier to an open-state.

5 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 4 , wherein the controller-circuit is in communication with a digital-map configured to indicate a location of the barrier relative to the host-vehicle.

6 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the traffic-situation includes a traffic-volume greater than a traffic-threshold.

7 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the traffic-situation includes a blockage of a portion of the roadway ahead.

8 . The traffic control system in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the traffic-situation is a speed-limited-vehicle traveling on the roadway ahead.

9 . A traffic control method, comprising:

detecting, with a detector, a traffic-situation proximate to a host-vehicle, said traffic-situation characterized as inhibiting traffic-flow;

determining that the traffic-situation has occurred, with a controller-circuit configured to communicate with the detector and a traffic-device, said traffic-device operable to indicate a lane-designation of a travel-lane; and

sending a request to the traffic-device, with the controller-circuit, said request indicative of a desired-designation of the travel-lane in accordance with a determination by the controller-circuit that the traffic-situation has occurred.

10 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the controller-circuit is configured to operate the host-vehicle in an automated-mode characterized by the controller-circuit steering the host-vehicle.

11 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 10 , further comprising:

in accordance with the lane-designation corresponding to the desired-designation the controller-circuit steering the host-vehicle, in the automated-mode, into the travel-lane.

12 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the traffic-device includes a barrier that blocks access to a restricted-lane of a roadway and the desired-designation includes operation of the barrier to an open-state.

13 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 12 , wherein the controller-circuit is in communication with a digital-map configured to indicate a location of the barrier relative to the host-vehicle.

14 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the traffic-situation includes a traffic-volume greater than a traffic-threshold.

15 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the traffic-situation includes a blockage of a portion of the roadway ahead.

16 . The traffic control method in accordance with claim 9 , wherein the traffic-situation is a speed-limited-vehicle traveling on the roadway ahead.