Staggered reinforcement

Benefits of using staggered reinforcement:

The main advantage of staggered rebar lapping is to avoid rebar congestion at localised zones

and also to avoid stress concentrations in the concrete (to transfer bond) to only one zone- by

staggering the laps, the stresses are spread over a larger area of concrete.

Source:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Civil-Engineering-1357/2010/4/Staggered-reinforcement-raft.htm