No, this isn't any risqu� post -- it's my Seasonal Gift to drivers
everywhere -- including St Paul, of course!

Use the "zipper merge" when traffic comes down from two (or three) lanes to
one (or two) lanes.  What that means is that drivers use all the lanes until
just before the lanes shrink ... and then take turns at that "merging
point."  That's different than the "Minnesota Way" which is for some drivers
to enter (or stay in) the "surviving lane" way before the merging point and
thus inciting "Road Rage" as other drivers drive in the less-used lane to
the merging point.

The Zipper Merge is now the official approved Minnesota methodology per
MN-DOT.  While the news release primarily addresses work zone lane closures,
the release also states " Mn/DOT also (hopes) motorists will use the zipper
approach whether message signs are posted or not in any drop lane situations
when traffic is congested."


For the full release, see:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/newsrels/04/08/31merge.html

And, to see how the zipper method works better, see the video demonstration
on this page:
http://www.dot.state.mn.us/information/dynamicmerge/factsheet.html


Rick Mons
   Tanglewood neighborhood of Shoreview



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