Whenever I'm in a traffic jam (expressway), it is usually caused by a lane closure. There are almost always signs posted alerting everyone of the closure, usually with more than enough distance from the problem area that no one should have difficulty getting over to an open lane.
What seems to me to be the problem is people follow a greedy algorithm. They cut into the closing lane because it's empty (or sparsely populated), then attempt to jet to the forced merge point then merge. At some point too many people do this, then you get two lines, one in the closing lane, one in the open lane that have to come to a complete stop and take turns.
Remove people's ability to follow a greedy algorithm and I predict you'll see a dramatic decrease in traffic jams due to lane closure.
What seems to me to be the problem is people follow a greedy algorithm. They cut into the closing lane because it's empty (or sparsely populated), then attempt to jet to the forced merge point then merge. At some point too many people do this, then you get two lines, one in the closing lane, one in the open lane that have to come to a complete stop and take turns.
Remove people's ability to follow a greedy algorithm and I predict you'll see a dramatic decrease in traffic jams due to lane closure.