I think it's a "Minnesota-nice" thing to the extreme end. I've been stuck in the same position, and even though the sign says "use the left lane," I know that the left lane does eventually end, and I'll feel selfish if I use the left lane just to get ahead of the rest of traffic. I'll keep my honest place in line in the right-lane, even if it means I'm ignoring road use suggestions (seriously).

As for the fake-swevers, fuck them. I don't get too pissed at late mergers unless they're just being opportunist douchebags (which clearly does not apply here because there's a traffic sign that specifically says "use left lane!"). There's no margin of error in tight traffic, no reason to possibly create an accident.

When the weather is as nice as it is these days, I ride the bike.  For everything.  

Cars are coffins.

Lighten up, Minnesotans: Merging at the last-minute is GOOD for traffic

Woodtick, your intentions are noble. But I need to be in Minneapolis by 7pm tonight, thus I shall drive an automobile.

Just out of curiosity, if we are to use both lanes prior to the merge, at what point should the two lanes merge? Right at the point where the left lane ends? If the traffic in the right lane is maintaining any pace at all and the cars in the left lane are slowing to wait for someone to allow them to merge, it seems to me that would cause cars in the right lane to have to brake abruptly to allow cars in the left lane to merge, thus highly increasing the likelihood of an accident. I'd much rather stay in the right lane and slow my commute by a few minutes rather than risk being involved an accident.

Obeying the signs also helps those who may need to get off on lake/5th  If the line of cars is beyond the exit you are also adding in cars that don't even need to be there.  If both lanes had 1/2 the total cars the line would be half as long, less with those exiting the freeway.  It's telling you to use the lane, so, use the lane, or not- but don't hate me for making your line shorter.

I have to admit I'm a right lane person, even though I know study after study proves that the last second merge is more efficient.  I don't want to be sitting in the left lane counting on the kindness of my fellow drivers.  My solution is not to even attempt the freeway during my morning or afternoon commute.  The middle of the day seems to be smooth sailing thus far.  I'm thinking I'll make it through the inconvenience of not using the freeway, but I'm hating what this construction  has done to West Duluth.  God help you if you are planning to try and attempt a left turn out of the Denfeld Plaza or the Duluth Clinic West.

On the Bright Side, Duluth has its first bike lane!!  Although not technically not a "lane" the new bike "sharrow" is on Kenwood from Skyline up to Subway.

MN-DOT's I-35 Duluth Mega Project page. (The Duluth Public Library links to it; that's how I found it.)

Paul: There was a sign on the southbound side that I noticed near the Bong Bridge exit, but until yesterday it had been covered up. I assumed it was the off-ramp closure since the only words I could make out were "Grand" and "Central." Would have been nice to give motorists notice who don't know about the MN/DOT page yet. So what are we supposed to do once they close the Central Ave. exit?

Vicarious and zra - understood.  We all have cars.

This is gonna be a horrible 3 years.

What I see happening is the folks in the left lane mostly do not want to take turns, they want to be in front, racing to some finish line.  The right lane people seem to be way more patient, knowing there is no way to rush a line, no matter, we all have to go on one road.  If the two lines were equal from the start (as in traffic on I-94 at rush hour), then people are going slow enough so merging is less of a problem. I think that "use both lanes" sign is just a recipe for disaster and safe drivers know it, so they sensibly stay in the safe place, out of the way of the speedsters who race in the left lane. . I will just expect delays, drive sensibly and allot extra time.  Not worth getting all raging, this is going to last a long time.

@ Jude, I agree 100%.  I know they request using both lanes, however  I would rather take my time in the R lane than attempt to get over into the L lane just to be shut out and probably smacked into while trying to merge back over.  I work too hard to pay for my car to put it to use as a battering ram.  Plus, coming off the exit from work (Lake Ave to I35South), left lane traffic is already whizzing by me at a faster speed than I plan on going, so once I reach my intended speed (the speed LIMIT) in the right lane, I make sure I allow extra room in front of me for anyone who would like to merge over and smile an extra bright smile at anyone who tries to flip me off or shake a fist at me (it's hilarious how pissed people get if they see they can't rattle you and get you angry).  When I am on my way to work, as usual everyone else feels the need to go faster than the speed limit, so again I just stay where I am at in the R lane until the construction starts.  As for the speed LIMIT, if the law states you are not to exceed XX MPH, I am not going to exceed that MPH no matter how long the line of traffic I am holding up.  That goes for any road, highway or freeway.  I don't care if you're late for something, it's your fault you didn't leave earlier.  I want to arrive in one piece and not in a body bag, and I sure as heck do not want to pay a "coupon" for speeding.  
That said, I will say with these exit closures and one-lane traffic, commuting from where I do (Cloquet) has become quite easier and less time consuming than it was when all the exits and both lanes were open.  Thanks MnDot for a more peaceful ride to work every day! =)

My 2 cents: 

If everyone let one car merge in front of them where two lanes or an onramp and lane converge, traffic would flow much more smoothly. Unfortunately, this is not a perfect world and people are aggressive, impatient, and will defend their spot in line as if their life depended on it. The merging situation will never be resolved because there will always be people that value their place or the 30 seconds they save not letting a car merge in line over any rational argument to the contrary.

Someone sideswiped my car on I35 last fall trying to jump ahead of people at a merge point and did $3200 damage to my vehicle. After letting multiple people merge in front of me and following the car in front of me at 2 or 3 car lengths (so I didn't have to hit the brakes every 2 seconds) this person got impatient, swerved out from traffic, sideswiped my car, and pushed me onto the shoulder.  He was forced to stop about 3 car lengths ahead of me because of the traffic, so I parked on the shoulder, walked up to his vehicle, asked him what the **ck he was doing.  He barely gave me a second look and drove off.  He did stop eventually, after which he lied and told the police during his interview that I was playing with my cell phone. The police, thankfully, must have thought he was an idiot as well (though I never saw the police report) since his insurance company later wrote me a $3200 check no questions asked. Unfortunately, this was one of the few days I didn't ride my bike to work.

P.S. Thanks to all of you wonderful motorists that occasionally let us poor souls trying to enter Superior St. from 62 Ave East merge into traffic. I personally can't wait until the Lester Bridge reconstruction is complete and things return to normal.

Since I'm ranting, I'd also like to say that certain cyclists contribute to traffic problem as well. Like motorists who don't want to share the road and seem to never signal their turns, I see cyclists blow through stop signs and ignore traffic signs all of the time. If you're going to ride on the street and take the lane from time to time to pass parked cars, etc, at least be courteous enough to obey traffic signals like a vehicle. I've heard people that ride make excuses like "I want to keep my momentum up" or "I don't want to unclip." Are you seriously that lazy? I ride both road and mountain bikes with "clipless" pedals, and it's not that big of a deal to unclip and stop once in a while to obey a traffic signal or stop sign.

P.S. ...and to the high school kids that blew an air horn at me twice last summer when I was riding home on Grand Ave, if I ever manage to get your license plate expect a visit from the local constabulary... Not that I'm holding a grudge...