NEWPORT-City Administrator Scott Collins said his office has been hearing a lot of citizens who have called to complain about the lack of synchronization, and subsequent traffic back-up, caused by new lights being installed in downtown Newport.

Collins told members of the board of mayor and aldermen at their Tuesday, Nov. 13 meeting, "I assure you we're working diligently to coordinate and synchronize the downtown signals."

Collins said the main problem has been traffic coming off North Street after passing over the bridge into downtown.

"The phones have been ringing. We're all working on it," said Collins.

Newport Police Chief Maurice Shults noted that most drivers don't seem to be aware they can turn right from North Street onto Main Street as they enter town, when the light is red and traffic is clear.

For more details, please see the Thursday edition of the Newport Plain Talk.