SASKATOON – After testing a collision-reducing traffic technique, the city of Saskatoon is reapplying it to Circle Drive.
The city of Saskatoon says the zipper merge pilot project on Circle Drive earlier this month was a success. Crews were able to complete their work over two weeks earlier than expected, although the city did site good weather for helping.
Saskatoon police say no fines were issued during the pilot merge because they intended to allow motorists time to adjust and learn the new concept first before strict enforcement.
The zipper merge between Millar Avenue and the Circle Drive North Bridge was the first time it had been used in the Bridge City. It’s a successful technique used for major construction projects that was adopted from Minnesota.
Now another zipper merge will be applied to both directions of traffic on Circle Drive South this Saturday, near the new overpass.
The merge was designed to ease traffic congestion and reduce certain collisions. Collisions usually occur when one lane is stopped or very slow while the other is travelling at a high rate of speed and someone tries to switch lanes.
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According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, zipper merges can reduce the overall length of traffic backup by as much as 40 per cent while creating a sense of fairness and equality for all lanes.
As drivers approach the “lane closed ahead” sign and traffic starts to back up they should stay in their lanes even after vehicles begin to congest. Once signs allow, motorists are asked to take turns in a zipper-like fashion with other drivers to merge into one lane.
Vehicles in the merging lane must signal and drivers in the through lane must each let one vehicle merge ahead of them.
Here’s a step-by-step video from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.
The city says drivers who do not adhere to signage could be slapped with a fine by Saskatoon police.
Motorists are also being asked to allow extra time when travelling through construction zones, watch for pedestrians, cyclists and work crews and obey all detours, signs, and barriers.
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