The Virginia Department of Transportation is retiring a traffic advisory system that broadcast via AM radio for Hampton Roads drivers as the agency shifts to a focus on modern-day communication tools.
Since the 1970s, VDOT has provided traffic updates for local drivers through its Highway Advisory Radio (HAR) system. It airs on 1680 AM and operates on eight transmitters broadcasting within a 10-mile radius to provide updates around the clock. But since it operates at a low-power 10-watt radio frequency — the maximum allowed by federal regulations — the broadcast quality suffered, often sharing inconsistent and unreliable updates due to atmospheric conditions, signal interference and terrain.
Saturday marks the last day the HAR system will broadcast for the region, which now joins the rest of the commonwealth in phasing out the aging infrastructure that’s become too costly and difficult to maintain and operate, according to VDOT. It also represents a broader shift away from legacy radio systems and toward digital communication tools, such as the Waze maps app and the 511 Virginia tool.
It’s not clear how much it will cost to decommission the system, which includes removing the equipment, but it will be handled through VDOT’s regular operations and maintenance work over the next year, the agency said.
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“This cost is minimal compared with the significant investment that would have been required to rebuild the outdated system with the same federal broadcast limitations, especially given the availability of other more modern traffic information tools providing more reliable service to a broader audience,” a VDOT spokesperson said via email.
VDOT will continue to use the nearly 200 roadway digital message signs throughout Hampton Roads to provide updated estimated travel times, incidents and lane closures.
Additionally, drivers can use the 511 Virginia website and mobile app, which provide updated travel information, including traffic, incidents, congestion, road conditions and construction across Virginia. Drivers in Virginia also can call 5-1-1 from a landline or cell to connect with an interactive, voice-activated phone system for traffic updates.
VDOT also encourages the use of the free Waze GPS app, which includes the 511 traffic data as well as user-reported traffic updates.
“This isn’t about ending a service; it’s about improving how we reach drivers,” said VDOT Hampton Roads District Engineer Mike Davis in a statement. “The Highway Advisory Radio has done its job for decades, but the technology has reached the end of its useful life. Retiring it now allows us to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars by focusing our resources on modern communication tools that provide faster, more reliable information to more drivers while continuing that same mission to keep travelers informed.”
Natalie Anderson, 757-732-1133, natalie.anderson@viriginiamedia.com
https://www.pilotonline.com/2025/12/06/vdot-retiring-am-radio/
