ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some drivers in Pinellas County say the traffic lights on 66th Street North have not been syncing up correctly, which has led to some frustrating backups during rush hour.

Thomas O’Brien, who has lived in Pinellas County for 25 years, says when he drives on 66th Street near Tyrone Boulevard, traffic is the busiest he’s ever seen it.

“Pre-pandemic, this area would be crazy around Christmas," he said. "But not on a daily basis like it is now."

The area is already congested with the shopping centers there, but O’Brien said he thinks part of the problem is the traffic lights.

He says that starting in January, the timing seemed off at the signal at 66th Street and Tyrone Boulevard.

“The synchronization of the lights that was there before has gotten out of whack," O'Brien said. "And you’ll get traffic building up at 22nd Avenue North, blocking westbound traffic."

O'Brien said the timing problem is a big issue during the afternoon rush hour, when traffic on northbound 66th Street gets stuck at 22nd Avenue North.

“Coming through on 22nd Avenue, we all know be in the left-hand lane heading this way," O'Brien said. "Because if you’re in the right-hand lane, you’re going to get stuck."

O’Brien said he’s been trying to get answers about the traffic congestion for months.

Spectrum News asked the Florida Department of Transportation about the problem.

FDOT officials say they did find an issue in the clock at the traffic signal on 66th Street and 22nd Avenue North that was causing the coordination at 66th and Tyrone Boulevard to be off.

Officials said that the issue has been fixed, and the lights should be operating better now.