Ask The Answer Person: "What is up with the stoplights at the College Drive/Fifth Avenue intersection by the bridge?"

(Vickie e-mails: "What is up with the stoplights at the College Drive/Fifth Avenue intersection by the bridge? I ALWAYS get a red light when I'm on College Drive, even when there's no one waiting to turn from Fifth Avenue. Many times the traffic is backed up clear to the Decorah Mart, waiting for the light to change. It never used to be like that. You used to always have a green light heading north or south on College Drive, unless someone was waiting to turn from Fifth Avenue. Did they change the timing on purpose, or are the sensors messed up?):

The Answer Person says: "As you have guessed, Vickie, there's been a problem with the sensors at the intersection. Because the sensors went bad, the stop lights have returned to their default setting, which is to alternate between green lights and red lights—even when there aren't any vehicles on Fifth Avenue.

Here's the good news—a replacement sensor has been ordered and should arrive soon. When it's installed, your morning commute should go smoothly again!"