Lake County traffic radio channel signs off after nearly 20 years
However, real time information still available online and on PASSAGE apps
Travelers in Lake County are reminded that its highway advisory radio channel 1620 AM will be decommissioned Wednesday after nearly 20 years of broadcasting.
However, for those who still want to listen to traffic condition updates, the Lake County Division of Transportation has added a new feature to its PASSAGE website and apps.
The 10-watt WQBR256 was an original element of the PASSAGE network launched to provide motorists with real-time information on traffic conditions and other information.
“It’s a bittersweet moment for us because the radio station was an essential part of Lake County PASSAGE when it opened in 2006,” said Jon Nelson, assistant county engineer. A message regarding the pending shutdown has been broadcast for several weeks.
The traffic radio channel helped motorists in central, eastern and western Lake County plan their commute by broadcasting information regarding delays due to crashes, construction and extreme congestion.
LCDOT operates and maintains five radio towers nearing the end of their service life. Officials determined decommissioning the towers, rather than building new towers or updating the existing ones, would save $400,000.
Up-to-date traffic information will continue to be available via the PASSAGE website, lakecountypassage.com, and its Apple and Android apps.
At PASSAGE, the public can view snapshots from intersection cameras and snowplows, see road construction zones and closures and sign up to receive alerts for designated roads. PASSAGE usage continues to grow, according to LCDOT, especially during extreme weather events.