SAVANNAH — Police in Savannah has started closing part of a street along the city's riverfront to address concerns from residents and business owners about cruising and loud noise.

Police spokesman Julian Miller says the eastern portion of River Street is closing at 10:30 p.m. each night and traffic is being diverted. The Savannah Morning News reports (http://bit.ly/TP0c2q ) the closures started this weekend.

Miller said the main issue is people cruising through the area playing excessively loud music.

The president of the Savannah Riverfront Association, Bill Dickinson, said business owners support the move. He said a lot of people were going through the area and causing problems. He predicts the change will make customers feel safer.

Miller said the same tactic was used in the mid-1990s after similar complaints surfaced.