My April column on the state's campaign to get drivers to use the zipper merge technique at road construction sites generated quite a bit of buzz. Since then it's been a hot topic on Twin Cities talk radio and was recently a featured segment on a local television station's afternoon magazine show.
Motorists have had plenty to say about the driving practice that is included in the latest edition of the Minnesota Driver's Manual. Over the past couple of weeks, they've weighed in with comments and suggestions and questions to keep the discussion going.
Several drivers said communication is the biggest problem in getting drivers to use both lanes until they reach the designated merge point, where they are supposed to take turns to flow safely and smoothly into the remaining lane.
Michael Pagelkopf from Rochester said part of drivers' confusion is that signs used by the Minnesota Department of Transportation at work zones do not convey a zipper merge, but show a traditional merge.
"How about a sign at the merge point showing what is expected?' he asked. "You could even make it active showing vehicles moving together to form a single stream of traffic."
Brian Hoel of Maple Grove suggested ambiguous signs such as "Lane Closed Ahead" so motorists would not know which lane is closed until they reach the designated merge point. Another reader said the zipper merge logo used in ads appearing in newspapers, on websites and on TV should be added to signs that tell drivers to "Use Both Lanes During Backups."
Spokesman Ken Johnson said MnDOT is looking at ways to modify its supply of signs to better instruct drivers when they should use the zipper merge. One idea is adding the word "ahead" to signs announcing that the right or left lane is closed so drivers know they don't have to merge immediately.
"Zipper merge is a term we want to throw in there somewhere," he said. "We are talking with our districts to make sure we are uniform statewide."
