As clips of strange drone-like objects saturate the internet this week, just outside downtown Detroit in Macomb County, motorists report frightening sounds they can’t identify. Yesterday, a local news reporter hopped on the M-53 and headed to the section drivers say either aliens, a female opera singer, or even whales are creepily sounding off. Sure enough, after a few moments of describing what Michiganders keep experiencing, she seemed startled to hear it herself. Watch the clip of the odd noises below.

Long and low wails on the M-53 near 18.5 Mile Road

The section of M-53 in question is just the northbound side and only the right lane. Drivers say it’s anything from UFOs and moaning aliens to oceanic mammals communicating. At worst, motorists are actually pulling over to see if something’s wrong with their cars.

Macomb County Michigan Resident’s Group on Facebook started a conversation about the phenomenon about five days ago. After dozens of remarks, Local 4 News investigated.

While the reporter clearly had a blast looking into the sounds, including amicable interviews with residents, there isn’t much to debunk here.

It’s true that the noises are non-human

New pavement is the culprit. In this particular section of roadway, the freshly poured pavement meets vehicle tires in a particular way, creating the odd humming sounds. 

Residents in the know describe the pavement as having cement grooves. These grooves assist cars with grip in adverse weather conditions, such as rain and sleet.

In any case, while locals and passersby find it weird and creepy, there isn’t anything evil or unsafe happening on the M-53 otherwise.