Summer brings many wonderful things to life in Colorado: pools, vacations, beautiful weather – but there’s also one huge drawback: ubiquitous and dreaded Road Construction…
Lane closures cause substantial traffic backups, leading to frustrated drivers and flaring tempers. Most people, upon seeing the “Right Lane Closed in 1,000 feet” sign, feel it is the polite thing to merge early and join the line of cars waiting to get through. Although it may feel wrong, what we all should be doing is called the “Zipper Merge”. The zipper merge is designed to optimize traffic flow by utilizing both lanes fully until the actual point of the lane closure and then cars alternate into the single, open lane.
There is much confusion around when to merge for a closed lane. Often, cars correctly practicing the zipper merge will encounter angry drivers and nasty looks when they fully utilize the closing lane prior to merging. A study from the Minnesota Department of Transportation shows that zipper merging reduces congestion time by up to 40%. Next time you encounter a lane closed scenario, try utilizing the zipper merge. It may be uncomfortable, but it’s the right thing to do. You’re not alone in this fight: the Colorado Department of Transportation is working to raise awareness of the zipper merge.
