August 4, 2026 3:50 a.m. 

Drivers traveling on Oregon 42 from Winston to Roseburg are going to see something new next week, called the “zipper merge”.

An ODOT release said sometime around August 9th, new signs and pavement markings will be added that encourage eastbound Oregon 42 drivers to use both lanes all the way to the bridge over Interstate 5, then take turns merging when the road narrows to one lane.

Dan Latham of ODOT said the little change could solve several common problems.

Latham said on most weekday mornings, Winston drivers heading to Roseburg tend to get into the left lane of Oregon 42 and stay there, knowing the right lane will eventually end. Vehicles in the left lane sometimes back up to Grant Smith Road and Carnes Road, affecting traffic at both intersections.

Latham said when drivers back up in the left lane, traffic congestion slows everyone down, and fewer cars can get through on a green light. The lane imbalance also means people tend to drive faster in the open right lane, and the speed difference can lead to serious crashes.

The release said road rage is another common problem. Some left-lane drivers resent late mergers and refuse to let them in. Aggressive drivers can also lead to crashes.

Latham said the zipper merge encourages cooperation and a sense of fairness as drivers use both lanes and take turns merging like the teeth of a zipper. Traffic is less likely to back up to Grant Smith Road or Kelly’s Corner and affect those intersection and ODOT expects to see fewer crashes related to uneven speeds in each lane.

Latham said the zipper merge has been successfully used in many other areas and states. According to a study by the Minnesota Department of Transportation, zipper merges can reduce the length of traffic backups by 40 percent, meaning drivers can get to their destinations more quickly when they cooperate and take turns.

The new zipper merge is part of the Oregon 42 Lookingglass Creek to Interstate 5 project, which paved almost five miles of highway, installed a new traffic signal at Rolling Hills Road and added several safety features.

Construction on the $11.97 million project is scheduled for completion in September.