A new traffic signal in West Knoxville is driving complaints among a host of commuters.
Kroger built a light on N. Cedar Bluff Rd. to improve access to their latest store. The City of Knoxville took ownership of it Tuesday.
Some who travel the area daily say it adds long waits to their commutes.
"It takes a long time to get from Cedar Bluff all the way down to the interstate," said Ginger Bethman. Her commute to Jaws Swim Shop takes her through the intersection during the busiest times.
A changing light triggers an instant reaction.
"Hurry," she laughed. "Because you're going to have to wait so long."
City leaders plan to study it's impact and traffic flow.
"Hopefully you can move right through there when it's synchronized with the other lights, rather than stopping at every light," said Jim Hagerman, Director of Engineering.
Cameras trigger the light changes as cars approach. The goal is to incorporate the system into current patterns along the Cedar Bluff corridor. Computers models coordinate the best timing for the lights.
Eventually, the city hopes to move to a system that adjusts for time of day and peak usage.
"With our current technology, we don't have a whole lot of flexibility for that, but we're moving towards upgrading the technology so we do have a lot more flexibility with time of day," Hagerman said.
In the meantime, officials ask drivers for patience; advice similar to that offered by Bethman.
"Breathe deep, check your phone, make mental lists of anything you need to do for the night," she said. "You've got plenty of time to get it all accomplished."
City officials say drivers can report issues by calling 311.