01-30-2011, 08:32 AM
Let's all be clear about this: the right lane is now designated as a "merge" lane, not a zipper lane. A zipper lane would have a sign saying something like "alternate merge." Judging from the responses from thoughtful people here, there is confusion regarding what "merge" means. A merge lane means that those in that lane yield right of way to those in the lane of travel. When there is an opening, they should gain speed and merge into moving traffic at the same speed. This merge lane would work in lighter traffic if people knew how to use it but clearly they do not. In heavy traffic, the merging concept can't work because everyone is stop and go. Furthermore, the merge lane can't work in that location because almost no one seems to know what it means!
I think the best, cheapest and easiest solution now is to designate those two lanes as zipper lanes with new signage. However, I don't think the phrase "alternate merge" is going to mean anything to people since they already don't know what merge means. Surely there must be some more succinct signage out there for designated the zipper flow.
At some point soon, work is going to begin on widening the highway from the merge location to Shower Dr. Once that begins, traffic will just be completely gnarly until that is completed. But there is some hope for the future.
I think the best, cheapest and easiest solution now is to designate those two lanes as zipper lanes with new signage. However, I don't think the phrase "alternate merge" is going to mean anything to people since they already don't know what merge means. Surely there must be some more succinct signage out there for designated the zipper flow.
At some point soon, work is going to begin on widening the highway from the merge location to Shower Dr. Once that begins, traffic will just be completely gnarly until that is completed. But there is some hope for the future.