ODOT Preparing New Zipper Merge on Oregon 42 Near I-5

Drivers heading east on Oregon 42 near Interstate 5 in the Green District will soon see a new traffic pattern aimed at easing congestion and improving the flow of vehicles during busy travel times.

The Oregon Department of Transportation says a zipper merge is expected to be installed during the week of Aug. 9 on eastbound Oregon 42 near the bridge over I-5 and the northbound ramps at Exit 119. An exact day for the change has not yet been announced.

The new setup is meant to address a problem that has become familiar to many drivers in the area. According to ODOT, eastbound traffic often begins stacking into the left lane well before the actual merge point, leaving the right lane underused and causing backups to stretch farther west than necessary.

Under the zipper merge system, drivers will be asked to use both eastbound lanes until reaching the designated merge point, where traffic will then take turns entering a single lane.

ODOT says the idea is simple: instead of merging early, drivers should stay in either open lane and then merge one at a time when the roadway narrows.

How the zipper merge works

ODOT is asking drivers to:

• Use both eastbound lanes as they approach the merge area.
• Continue in either lane until reaching the merge point.
• Take turns merging into the single lane.
• Leave space for another vehicle to merge.
• Use turn signals when merging.
• Avoid blocking other drivers or straddling lanes.

The agency has emphasized that using the right lane all the way to the merge point is not considered cutting in line. In fact, that is exactly how the system is designed to work.

What drivers will notice

The new traffic pattern will come with updated signs and new pavement arrows. ODOT says the goal is to make it clear that both lanes narrow into one shared lane, rather than giving the impression that one lane simply ends.

That change matters because the current setup has encouraged many drivers to merge early, which can create long lines and increase frustration behind the wheel.

By encouraging drivers to use both lanes evenly, ODOT hopes to:

• Shorten the overall length of backups.
• Help more vehicles move through signal cycles.
• Reduce large speed differences between lanes.
• Cut down on aggressive or confrontational merging behavior.

ODOT has also said the zipper merge will not solve every traffic issue in the corridor, but it believes the change should make traffic movement more efficient during heavier periods.

Part of the bigger Oregon 42 project

The zipper merge is one part of a larger Oregon 42 improvement project between Winston and I-5. That broader project includes resurfacing, bridge repairs, ADA ramp upgrades, signal work and other traffic improvements through the Green District.

But for many local drivers, the zipper merge may be one of the most noticeable changes, especially for those who travel the corridor regularly.

With installation expected soon, drivers may want to prepare for the new pattern now: use both lanes, merge at the designated point and take turns.

If drivers follow the system as intended, ODOT believes the result will be smoother and less stressful traffic near one of the county’s busiest highway connections.

To view the project page, click here.