Experts say if you are like most drivers in the Pacific Northwest you will be quick to jump out of the closed lane and join a long backup in the other lane. Traffic engineers say that reaction is what causes the backup.
The correct way to react to a lane closure sign is to fill both lanes equally when approaching a point of closure. Then, within a few car lengths of the lane ending, drivers in the closed lane alternate, in “zipper” fashion, moving into the open lane.
This will keep traffic in both lanes moving at roughly the same speed experts say and the congestion drops dramatically.
Washington State Department of Transportation has been urging PNW drivers to adopt the “zipper merge” strategy since 2014. “The zipper merge works to help keep traffic moving BUT – and it’s a big but – it only works if everyone buys into it and works together,” WSDOT said in a social media post.
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Click for more informationWSDOT officials pointed to the following animation from Adam Wygle, a designer from Tacoma, as an example of how zipper merging should and should not work.
So here’s the right and the wrong way to zipper merge. pic.twitter.com/uj5n1IuECJ
— Adam Wygle (@Wygle) November 18, 2017
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Click for more informationFrom the WSDOT website
The key issue here is courtesy. Safe and efficient movement of traffic through the merging area approaching a work zone lane closure depends on the merging drivers ability to plan ahead, adjust speed and merge into a safe gap between vehicles in the open lane. It is illegal for drivers in the open lane to actively block merging traffic.
Start planning ahead as soon as you can determine which lane is closed. There is no need to abruptly change lanes or merge into the open lane far in advance of the lane closure. It is legal to merge into the open lane right up to the actual lane closure taper of devices, but it is recommended to give yourself some additional space and merge somewhat sooner.