We Really Need To Talk About Minnesota’s Zipper Merge Problem

The old joke goes, "There are two seasons in Minnesota - winter and road construction season". While we're nearing the end of that construction season, I just witnessed a lot of Minnesotans not in late-season form when it comes to driving in a construction zone.

Like many people in recent days, I spent some time up on the North Shore doing some hiking, camping, and admiring the brilliant fall colors in the Lutsen area. It was relaxing, it was beautiful, and my trip back was anything but those two things.

While my experience was in rural Northeastern Minnesota, this type of thing is sadly seen all over the state.

Along Minnesota Highway 61 right now, there are a few road construction-related bottlenecks where traffic can come to a standstill. In each of those areas, two lanes of traffic heading the same direction merge into one. Despite signs alerting drivers to use both lanes of traffic during backups and to zipper-merge at the merge point, a long line of cars forms in one lane, and the other one remains largely empty.

READ MORE: How To Properly Zipper Merge, And Why It Actually Works

The cars actually following the instructions on the signs to use both lanes were met with jerks in the full lane of traffic, some of which nearly caused accidents.

I was one of a handful of vehicles in the emptier of the two lanes, and someone in the full lane actually pulled partially into the open lane to cut off traffic going by them as they were yelling out of their window at the cars passing by, seemingly thinking the cars using the emptier lane were not following the rules.

That is the opposite of the truth. And, shockingly, a second person further up was also partially occupying both lanes of traffic for what I am guessing would be the same reason. They were literally driving down the lane divider, using both lanes.

Yes, being stuck in a slow-moving line of traffic can be frustrating, but trying to cut people off or impede people from following the law and following the instructions on the signs is a recipe for disaster.

Making things worse, the cars that were actually following the instructions to use both lanes were met with more resistance when the merge point came.

I was one of maybe a dozen or so cars that actually followed the "use both lanes" instructions, and despite the fact that you're supposed to take turns at the merge point (hence the name zipper-merging), numerous cars refused to let anyone in.

Officials with MNDOT and other traffic experts all agree that properly zipper merging in scenarios like these is the most efficient way to keep traffic moving. Yet, for whatever reason, an unbelievably large number of people continue to think you're somehow cheating or being a jerk when actually using both lanes as instructed.

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I actually heard someone yell out the window at one of the drivers in front of me, "You saw the signs back there! You should have gotten in the other lane like everyone else!" Yikes. That's the opposite of Minnesota Nice. It's also the opposite of how traffic officials want you driving.

The zipper merge has been around for a long time, and despite years and years of this being the recommended thing to do in areas of merging traffic bottlenecks, a disappointingly large number of drivers continue to do the opposite of what is recommended, and then get aggressive with people who are following the rules.

I saw more than one person shaking a fist or yelling in the fuller lane as other cars drove by.

Again, I get it. You're stuck in a slow-moving line of traffic. That's frustrating; I understand. But I promise, those people in the other lane aren't "cheating", and you shouldn't be getting mad at them for doing what they're supposed to be doing.

The good news is that we're near the end of road construction season. A majority of projects usually wrap up by the beginning of November, and then we need to focus on winter driving skills. But here's hoping we can all remember our zipper merging skills over the winter for when they're needed again next spring.