BERLIN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) — A long-term, and long-distance highway reconstruction zone on I-96 north of Lake Odessa is prompting reminders about proper protocol when approaching and driving through work zone.
It’s also rekindling debate among drivers on the merits and mechanisms of the zipper merge.
State police and transportation officials are in agreement and adamant that there should be no debate — the zipper merge is the safest and most efficient way to move traffic through a lane closure, as long as it is done correctly.
“When it says ‘Use both lanes and take turns,’ we mean it. If you’ve got 1,000 cars in one lane versus 500 cars in two lanes, that’s going to decrease the backups,” said John Richards, a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Transportation’s Grand Region.
“It is a more effective way of getting more traffic through that zipper merge than if everybody backs up like a bunch of baby ducks,” said Michigan State Police Lt. Michelle Robinson.
With the record set straight, officials are making an appeal to the indignant and uninformed.
“Vigilante lane blockers, as we call them, in zipper merge work zones — it’s insane why people think they can block traffic and take it upon themselves to do traffic control. It’s lunacy,” Richards said.
“That’s against the law. … You cannot block traffic just because you feel like someone is cutting in front of you,” Robinson said.
At the same time, officials are pleading for drivers to pay better attention as they approach construction zones and backups after a deadly crash near Clarksville over the weekend.
“All evidence in the latest crash points to a large truck not even touching his brakes. … There was no sign of them hitting the breaks, smashed into the backup and killed a person. It’s so preventable if you would just pay attention,” Richards said. “People speeding — that’s a choice. Tailgating is a choice, eating food while they are driving, that’s a choice.”
Checking your route ahead of time on the MDOT website or through your maps app can also cut down on another risky distracted driving behavior in work zones.
“Individuals need to plan their trips instead of entering that construction zone then going on their phone and maps to get around it. They can plan ahead and go around that, take an exit before the zone starts and that makes them a lot safer,” Robinson said.
