After we ran the story "Love/hate relationship: New 212 garners praise and grumbles [0]" in January, we received a number of letters and comments from readers debating the right way to merge.

When I spoke with Charles Cadenhead, MnDOT project manager for new 212, I asked him for MnDOT's official position on how to merge correctly- specifically in the case of the new 212/Highway 41 exit ramp.

“The merge shouldn’t be backing up traffic,” Cadenhead said. “It should fold in. The two lanes should be at capacity as much as possible. That’s how it’s meant to work.”

Cadenhead advises drivers to take turns and leave a gap in front of them at the point where two lanes reduce to one to allow for one car to merge in.

“It comes down to being a courteous driver,” he said.