Signs Promote Upcoming Highway Advisory Station

REGIONAL - Motorists traveling along Route 9 and Interstates 95 and 295 have noticed new blue and yellow signs noting the upcoming Highway Advisory Radio.

In the coming weeks, yellow flashing bulbs will be added to these signs, the radio frequency will be uncovered, and drivers can tune into the AM dial to get urgent information about traffic conditions.

The station will provide alerts regarding accidents, incidents, road conditions, road construction, and other advisories.
State Department of Transportation spokesman John Coy said transmitters will be installed at the intersection of Interstate 95 and Route 9 in Old Saybrook and at the junction of Interstates 95 and 395 in Waterford.

On a clear day, Coy said, the station can transmit up to five miles in all directions.

During ideal conditions, this means the Old Saybrook transmitter's coverage could start as far west as Interstate 95 exit 65, east to Interstate 95 exit 71, north to Route 9 exit 4, northwest into Lyme near Hamburg Cove, and south covering coastal areas of Old Saybrook and Old Lyme as well as the eastern coastal section of Westbrook.

The Waterford transmitter's coverage could cover as far west as Interstate 95 exit 71, east to Interstate 95 exit 84, northwest to Interstate 395 exit 78, and south covering coastal sections of Waterford and East Lyme.

The coverage, Coy said, is affected by weather conditions and terrain limiting its transmission to three miles.

"The radio typically is at a major interchange in case we need to remove traffic off the highway and have motorists take diversion routes," Korte said.

The DOT has several highway advisory radio stations along the shoreline on 1610 AM including one covering the Madison area transmitting from Interstate 95 exit 62, Branford region broadcasting from Interstate 95 exit 56, and the West Haven area transmitting from Interstate 95 exit 40.

The highway advisory radio will work in conjunction with electronic variable message signage and closed circuit cameras recently installed along Interstates 95 and 395.