A method for transmitting control information in a wireless communication network is provided in which one or more prescribed fields in an existing control channel structure are modified to enable express signaling directly between a base station and at least one mobile station without the need to traverse a backhaul path between the base station and the base station controller. More specifically, prescribed fields in the control channel are modified to carry one or more prescribed message identifiers that convey different types of information, e.g., an identifier for indicating which mobile station is the intended recipient, an identifier for indicating the type of message being transmitted (e.g., broadcast, multicast, etc.), a message identifier indicating the available Walsh space for data transmission, and so on. In this manner, existing control channel structures and formats can accommodate many different signaling functions directed to either single or multiple mobile stations.