Techniques for sending and receiving signaling messages on shared and dedicated channels in a wireless communication system are described. A user equipment (UE) may receive a first signaling message on a shared channel during a first time period, receive a second signaling message on a dedicated channel during a second time period, and receive a third signaling message on the shared channel during a third time period. The UE may receive traffic data on the shared channel during all time periods. The UE may be handed over from a source Node B to a target Node B during the second time period. The UE may receive the first signaling message via the source Node B, receive the second signaling message via the source and target Node Bs, and receive the third signaling message via the target Node B.