JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Motorists driving on U.S. Route 54 in Osage Beach are urged to use an alternative type of merge technique. Bridge work along U.S. Route 54 at the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks bridge has caused backups and delays. To help ease the congestion, motorists are asked to use the “zipper merge” and take turns to merge safely as they come into the work zone. Click here to watch a video of the zipper merge in action.
“This different type of merge is the best way to keep traffic moving safely and more efficiently on heavily-traveled routes,” said Resident Engineer Chris Graham. “The safest merging is to think about two lanes merging into one. Not one lane merging into the other.”
When approaching a lane closure in a work zone, some motorists start to merge as soon as they see warning signs and learn which lane ahead is closed. However, this can fill the open lane quickly. When a driver in the closed lane can’t move into the open lane in time, the closed lane ends forcing the vehicle to suddenly stop. The vehicle must now join traffic from a dead stop. This driving behavior can lead to lane switching, inconsistent driving speeds that cause crashes, long back-ups and road rage.
“Research shows these dangers decrease and traffic moves more smoothly when motorists use both lanes until reaching the defined merge area and then alternate merging every other vehicle – like the teeth of a zipper – into the open lane,” Graham said.
By using two full lanes of traffic until the merge, your speed difference is reduced between the two lanes and the length of backups is reduced 40 to 50 percent. When both lanes continue to move slowly, everyone is equally delayed, which also reduces road rage.
For more information on safe merging, visit www.modot.org/zipper-merge.
MoDOT asks all motorists to work with us by buckling up, putting your phone down, obeying all traffic signs, and slowing down and moving over in work zones.
For more information about MoDOT projects, traffic updates, or other transportation-related matters, please visit our Traveler Information Map at http://traveler.modot.org/ or call our 24-hour Customer Service Center at 1-888-ASK-MoDOT (275-6636). While at modot.org, sign up for work zone updates sent directly to your inbox. Information is also available 24/7 by connecting with us on social media:
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