With road construction projects causing delays across Windsor, city officials are urging drivers to adopt the zipper merge technique to ease congestion. While many motorists believe merging early is more courteous, transportation experts argue that the opposite is true in heavy traffic.
What is Zipper Merging?
The zipper merge involves drivers using both lanes until the merge point, then taking turns moving into a single lane. This method maximizes road space and promotes orderly merging.
"The zipper merge works because it uses all available road space and encourages drivers to merge in an orderly, predictable way," said Stacey McGuire, Windsor's executive director of operations and deputy city engineer. "It's not about cutting in — it's about keeping traffic moving efficiently."
City Advice
The city advises against merging early, which can create a long backlog of single-lane traffic. Instead, drivers should stay alert in zipper merge zones and be courteous to fellow motorists.
Construction Plans
Over the next four-plus months, Windsor plans to repair, reconstruct, or replace more than 50 streets as part of a $36.6-million road rehabilitation program. This is part of the city's largest-ever single-year investment in roads — $163.8 million in total, most allocated for larger projects.
For more information, contact Taylor Campbell at tcampbell@postmedia.com.
