Zipper Lane coning
will facilitate merging

Because many drivers on the new Zipper Lane extension have not mastered the art of safe merging, transportation officials are going to corral traffic with cones or barricades.

"What's happening right now, as they were doing on the Liliha onramp coming Ewa-bound, folks are trying to get ... into the right lane of the freeway quickly," Department of Transportation Director Rod Haraga said.

The state opened the 15-mile extension Monday to help car-poolers get used to the new route before students return to school next week.

Motorists have a half-mile to transition into the Zipper Lane from the Radford Drive entrance. But many motorists are cutting almost immediately into the Zipper Lane. Officials plan to put cones or barricades at the entrance to help funnel motorists and prevent them from cutting in front of cars already traveling on the Zipper Lane.

One good piece of news: Car-poolers have been saving 15 to 30 minutes of drive time, thanks to the extension.

With the 20 to 30 minutes of savings, residents can spend more time at home with their family or have an extra cup of coffee, Haraga said.