What it is and how it works
How zipper threading helps keep traffic moving
When there are lane closures and heavy traffic on the highway, the zipper method is the best way to keep traffic moving.
With a few simple tips, you can save time and reduce frustration in heavy traffic and construction zones – whether you’re commuting to work every day or driving through Michigan on summer vacation.
And most importantly, use the zip method, even if it annoys other drivers.
The quickest and most efficient way to merge into a construction zone is probably not the one you think. The “zipper method,” where vehicles travel parallel until a lane physically narrows, is better for traffic flow than having vehicles form a single line early on.
Yes, that means that the driver you berated for “cheating” by passing you in the empty lane after you politely moved into the through lane half a mile before the construction zone was helping the flow of traffic more than you were. Sorry.
More and more states, including Michigan, are requiring drivers to use zip merging. Some have even put up flashing signs showing how and where to merge.
“It’s important to merge smoothly and avoid sudden lane changes,” said Teresa Qu, associate professor of urban and regional planning at Michigan State University in 2018.
The Michigan State Police have also long advocated this rule: “When approaching a construction zone where one lane is narrowed, remember to use the zipper rule. To keep traffic moving, drivers should use both lanes and take turns moving into the open lane.”
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