WRAL's traffic guy is leaving -- no joke

WRAL trafficologist Mark Roberts is known to be a jokester, but he and his on-air colleagues seemed unusually somber Tuesday morning.

Still, Roberts tried his best to lighten the mood with self-deprecating humor as he announced on WRAL's morning news that he was leaving his traffic news post after eight years. His last day is Sept. 28.

"It may improve the quality of life around here," Roberts said jokingly, adding that maybe it wouldn't be so loud around there any more.

Co-anchors Bill Leslie and Lynda Loveland were having none of that.

"You're one of the true characters in the greatest sense, Mark," Leslie said. "We love you."

He's a character, all right. The hyper traffic guy wore a hard hat for WRAL promos. He enthusiastically recruited viewers to sign up as "Mark's Road Crew" to contact him with breaking traffic information.

Now he's starting his own business: Mark Roberts Enterprises Inc.

"You're looking at the president and CEO," he told viewers with mock pomposity, as Leslie and Loveland laughed.

The media services company, which also includes his wife, Tresa, represents Roberts for public speaking engagements, emceeing, and product endorsement.

"I've already landed a pretty big client," he said.

This doesn't mean the end of his association with Capitol Broadcasting Co., which owns WRAL.

Roberts announced he'll soon host pregame and postgame shows on CMC's Hurricanes Radio Network.

He'll also continue hosting WRAL's Saturday-morning "Brain Game" as well as appearing at WRAL's Christmas Parade and maybe even the N.C. State Fair -- "if they give me the call."

Later that day, he said he'll miss doing the morning traffic and working with new technology that made his job easier and better over the years.

Predictably, there's one thing the 4 a.m. riser definitely won't miss about the job.

"Four a.m." he said, adding: "I hope to enjoy reading and napping again. Boy, that sounds exciting, doesn't it?"