Ask A Trooper: Signs will indicate when multiple lanes change to one

Q: When you are traveling on a two-lane street, and it abruptly changes to a one-lane street, which has the right of way? Is it the vehicle that is already in the proper lane, or the one in the outside lane? This type of roadway exists in Duluth’s Spirit Valley in the northbound lane at 59th Avenue West and Grand Avenue.

A: I get this question from time to time, and I always thought it was fairly clear, but I am wrong again. In most situations there will be signage indicating the change from multiple lanes to a single lane, and it is not abrupt. The specific area of road on Grand Avenue as you approach 59th Avenue West traveling into the Spirit Valley shopping area has a sign along the left lane telling drivers they must turn left from that lane.

If you were in the left lane and needed to get to the right lane, traffic already in the right lane would have the right of way. You would be making a lane change, having to signal and move into the right lane only when it is safe to do so.

The question asked — does the vehicle in the proper lane or the outside lane have the right of way? Of course the vehicle in the proper lane would have the right of way. I believe the intent of the question is — which is the proper lane? In this situation it would be the vehicles that are going straight ahead, in the right lane, and do not have to make a lane change that would have the right of way.

Whenever there are road designs where you lose a lane of traffic, watch for signs and plan ahead to position your vehicle into the lane you need to be.

Sgt. Mark Baker is a member of the Minnesota State Patrol.

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