As everyone in Rockport and Gloucester now knows, the A. Piatt Andrews Bridge is undergoing an extensive and lengthy maintenance that is anticipated to continue for several years. The Piatt and the Blynman Cut Bridge are the only ways into and out of the island of Cape Ann proper. The Blynman has long been a notorious traffic nightmare, particularly in the Summer when the bridge opens frequently for the heavy boat traffic. Now the A. Piatt Andrews Bridge is also a traffic pinch point. The Blynman needs frequent maintenance and repair and a complete failure of the drawbridge is not hard to imagine. Evacuating Cape Ann (imagine a radiation release scenario from Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant) would be difficult at the best of times, the current situation could prove dire. An interesting social cooperation event is occurring every morning. Drivers are reluctant to use completely empty travel lanes leading to the merge point. No one wants to look like a selfish yahoo to the people lined in dutiful  single file in the left lane. This is causing massive backups on the feeder roads at the rotary. I think a sign is needed: PLEASE USE BOTH LANES. It would help and also allay a lot of guilt. Here is more on the bridge project.