@Mahkno :
Nope. abc7chicago.com/zipp er-merge-illinois-wh at-is-law/5972855/#"What we're looking for people to do is fill in both lanes all the way up to the merge point, lane closure point, where the lanes reduce down to a single lane," said Matthew Daeda, IDOT traffic operations engineer. "At that point the motorists will then have to take turns."

 

Experts believe that is the quickest way to get through construction sites and entrances on highways during busy season.If you don't like it, complain to the state, not those simply following the law.

Zipper early or at the choke, I don't care. What bugs me is when someone bullies their way in, riding the bumper of the merger in front because they don't want to take turns.
Or when they go past the choke, driving in the breakdown lane because of entitlement.

If Illinois wants people to zipper merge then they need to update their signage. Why put "right lane closed ahead" 2 miles before the construction (or whatever) zone. They know what is going to happen. Is what they need to do is have signs that read "lane reduction ahead" then slowly and simultaneously force both lanes into a central/middle lane and when all cars are now in a single file lane, shift that lane right or left depending.

Wait a minute......You're not supposed to be in the left lane unless passing. According to 625 ILCS 5/11-701 being in the lane can cost ya $120.

The zipper merge is also the law in Germany, interestingly enough:
www.kaiserslauternam erican.com/how-to-me rge-lanes-in-germany -2/auto.howstuffworks.c om/traffic-lane-zipp er-merge.htm

@PeoriaChronicle :
I agree with the checked image but the cars should offset each other. Otherwise two cars get at the choke at the same time. I adjust my speed if I'm in the right lane and cars are coming on.

@kraziebill : I would like to know when the last one of those tickets were issued. LOL

The problem with the IDOT videos is that they don't show the zipper merging a quarter mile back. Yes... zipper merging works... It does not have to happen where the cones are. In fact it makes no difference to the flow if its a quarter mile back or at the cones. The persons making it a problem... are the ones who refused to merge a quarter mile back.I would say that part of the problem is that IDOT should have started the cone choke a quarter mile back.

@Mahkno :
Probably comes down to cost. Most projects the barrels/cones are actually rented.

A quarter of a mile is not very far back. The Hoerr truck was blocking the left lane for at least a mile to a mile and a half. Not his job. Not how the zipper merge works. The vehicles should be using both lanes up until the choke point or at most within a quarter mile of it, which is pretty close! It's not the job of PJ Hoerr or any other drivers to block traffic or decide where cars should merge.

We should go back to just 2 lane roads EVERYWHERE.Reduced construction time
Reduced cost of construction and maintenance (if there were any)
Reduced time and cost to snowplow
More greenscape and less pavement to increase climate temperature.No more PJ Hoerr blocking trafficProbably have less accidents too

@kraziebill :
Less road rage! Haha.

@Mahkno :
I agree 100%The problem with the zipper merge on a highway is that traffic is flowing fairly steady... until someone races up to the chokepoint 15-20 mph more than the traffic flow until 5 feet from the traffic cones, then merges over at speed, and has to slam on the brakes to avoid rear-ending the car in front of them.This causes the car they cut-off to hit the brakes, causing a chain reaction down the line. I'd love to see ISP station a cop just before the merge with a 2nd cop just after the work zone. First cop could clock the "zipper" zipping along over the work zone speed limit that started 100 yards before the merge, with the 2nd cop pulling the "zipper" over for a hefty fine for speeding in a construction zone. The revenue would be substantial.

If everyone were doing it right, there wouldn't be the ability to speed to the front of the line in the left lane and "cut" in. Both lanes are supposed to be used! So they would both be the same and of relatively equal length. As cars take turns merging, the traffic would move more efficiently. I like @AntiRanchDrssng's idea best--merge both the left and right lane to the center, and then after the cars have been merged, have the lane shift to wherever it needs to be (right or left).