WINNIPEG — It’s been more than a year-and-a-half since the city launched its zipper merge project in hopes of changing driving behaviour.
However, a city report released Monday said data collected from test location shows very little difference observed in “pre and post zipper merge setups.”
The addition of zipper merge signs did not have much of an impact on altering driver’s behaviours in the specific way the city had hoped for, the report stated.
READ MORE: Winnipeg pushes zipper merge for drivers in pilot project
A zipper merge occurs when a lane is closed ahead but drivers continue to use the lane until they near the closure, at which point the cars in the affected lane merge into the lane beside them in a zipper-like pattern – one car in the open lane goes followed by a car in the closing lane, taking turns, co-operating, and being courteous.
The ineffectiveness is largely due to a lack of education as to how drivers should merge at a construction lane closure, the report added.
The first test location took place on northbound Lagimodiere Boulevard on a lane closure between Fermor Avenue and Paterson Street. It was installed
June 9, 2015 until the week of June 22, 2015. The second test location took place on eastbound Bishop Grandin Boulevard on a lane closure that began east of Waverley Street. It was installed July 6, 2015 until the week of August 10, 2015.
The cost to use the signs was $166 per day.
The next step for education drivers on zipper merge will be to approach Manitoba Public Insurance to help start education drivers to merging in construction zones.
Comments