Waymo restores freeway routes after construction-zone software updates
Freeway service returns in stages
Waymo is gradually restoring freeway routes to its driverless ride-hailing service after keeping its robotaxis off high-speed roads for more than two months. Phoenix is first, with Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area set to follow in the coming days. The company says operations will resume across its entire service area, including areas with construction.
The restart follows software updates designed to improve performance near freeway construction. Waymo says enhanced scene recognition and routing now help its vehicles perform better around work zones.
Why Waymo suspended the routes
The renewed rollout follows a safety-driven pause in freeway robotaxi service, which removed routes intended to shorten commutes and speed access to airports. Freeway trips launched in San Francisco, Phoenix and Los Angeles in November 2025, with Miami added later.
Weeks after the routes disappeared in May, Waymo voluntarily recalled nearly 4,000 robotaxis. A filing submitted in June to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identified at least 13 instances of vehicles entering highway sections closed for construction. Waymo reported no injuries or collisions linked to those events.
After reviewing the incidents, Waymo restricted freeway operations. This was its sixth robotaxi recall. Earlier recalls led to software fixes after vehicles entered flooded roads and behaved illegally around school buses.
Regulatory scrutiny is increasing
The return comes as robotaxi operators face closer scrutiny in heavy traffic and around emergency responders. Rep. Kevin Mullin proposed a bill directing federal regulators to establish minimum national safety standards after autonomous vehicles blocked ambulances and fire trucks, entered active crime scenes, or missed cones and flares.
The operational lesson
For businesses assessing autonomous transport, the sequence is practical: Waymo paused service, recalled the fleet, updated recognition and routing, then began a city-by-city return. Plans that rely on automated mobility should allow for temporary route withdrawals while software is updated, especially around construction.