Yes, commuting sucks. Wouldn't it be great if you knew ahead of time, in real time, which lanes were clear and which were obstructed? Well, starting today, you will. Drivers on a 20-mile East Bay stretch of I-80 were confronted today with over 110 new digital signs flashing X's and arrows of different colors. The Chronicle reports that the signs are part of the I-80 Smart Corridor Project, and aim to ease congestion between the Carquinez Bridge and the Bay Bridge.

Here's how they work: Attached to 11 overhead structures, the signs warn of upcoming lane conditions — theoretically allowing you plenty of time to change lanes and avoid one of the 25 lane-blocking incidents that happen weekly along the heavily trafficked stretch.

In the above embedded video, Caltrans spokesperson Shannon Brinias explains how to interpret the messages that will flash across the digital screens. "Most of the time, they'll remain dark — that means there's nothing blocking the lanes ahead," says Brinias. "If you see the signs light up, that means there's an issue ahead. If your lane has a green arrow, that means the lane is clear. If your lane has a yellow X, that means move over to a green arrow lane. If your lane has a red X, that means the lane is blocked ahead — move over as soon as it's safe."

The overhead signs represent one of four key elements of the I-80 Smart Corridor Project. The project also includes ramp meters, traffic information boards, and local street signs to help you navigate neighborhoods should you be detoured off the interstate to avoid the aftermath of a collision.

According to Caltrans, over 270,000 vehicles per day use the I-80 corridor. Hopefully the new roughly $79 million project will succeed in making that drive just a little less miserable.

Related: Report: San Francisco Has The Third Worst Traffic In The Country