Multifunction traffic control and information system

A multifunction traffic control and information system of the present invention includes external condition sensors and various devices each having one or more display portions to display alphanumeric messages and a local communications module functionally linked to a local network. At least one device further includes a cellular communications module and a system controller. The controller receives a display data string including a message displayable by one or more of the devices, as transmitted from a remote source via a cellular network, determines at least one of the devices to display the message, and routes the message to at least one display portion associated with the one or more determined devices. The controller further generates a return data string based on external condition data sensed by the one or more sensors, and transmits the return data string across the cellular network to the remote source.