During I-25 Construction, DO Merge at the Last Minute?

We're all used to the construction on I-25 bringing two lanes down to one (Crossroads, anyone?). But, it turns out, when that one car cuts everyone in line and merges last minute—they're right, you are wrong. 

OK, so I am totally guilty of this: Traffic is slowed because two lanes are suddenly becoming one in a construction zone. I've merged over right away, and I'm patiently moving along at a low speed with everyone else, probably enjoying my favorite radio station. ;) Then, there's that one jerk who continues blowing past everyone in the other lane, expecting us to let them over at the last second.

Am I gonna let you in after you cut in line? As if. You get the stink eye. 

Well, it turns out, they're not being rude; they're kind of actually in the right, and I had no idea.

According to Diply's 'Why That Jerk Who Merges Last Minute Is Actually Right,' the Kansas Department of Transportation encourages this to keep traffic flowing. They call it a 'zipper merge,' where you continue to use both lanes, and merge by alternating, rather than all moving over to one lane right away.

It's explained here:

I guess by trying to be polite, we may actually be making traffic worse. Maybe a good thing to keep in mind next time you're in I-25 construction traffic.