Site Navigation List of All High Priority Corridors Interstate Guide.com HPC Home High Priority Corridors: Excerpts from the ISTEA, NHS, TEA-21, and SAFETEA-LU Legislation Changes to HPC System due to SAFETEA-LU High Priority Corridors: Sources   Interstate 87 (Corridor 47) Routing Corridor 47 follows Interstate 87 (New York State Thruway and Adirondack Northway) from New York City north to the International Border between New York and Quebec, Canada. The corridor continues internationally as Autoroute 15, which continues north to Montreal, Quebec. Purpose A study of the Interstate 87 corridor was conducted between January 2003 and April 2005. As part of the study, the entire Interstate 87 corridor and its capacity for multimodal improvements was reviewed. The study identified several core issues along the freeway corridor, including: Increased traffic along the route, including: Intercity travel for business and personal trips Commuting travel for business Recreational travel for tourism from beyond New York Goods movement (by truck or rail), including movement across the international border 40% increase in truck traffic at the Lacolle-Champlain border crossing between 1996 and 1999 Increased security requirements coupled with increased traffic flow have resulted in extensive delays at the border crossing Rail traffic on parallel routes has also increased significantly Employment growth along the Interstate 87 corridor has outpaced the rest of New York between 1969 and 2000 Improvements Proposed improvements outlined in the study may include but are not limited to: Constructing a high-speed rail corridor parallel to Interstate 87 (150+ miles per hour) Creating a "Port of Excellence" at the International Border between New York and Quebec Upgrading and enhancing various sections of railroad parallel to and connecting to the Interstate 87 corridor Upgrading the freeway through "smart highway expansion, with real-time interactive management, priority treatment for the most efficient modes and operations that both adjust to and control congestion," including: Smart Highways, including improved traffic management Smart and Safe Drivers, including use of a 511 travelers information system, variable message signs, call boxes, data interconnection system, and other technology enhancements Smart Freight Management (including improvements at the international border and weigh stations) Smart Public Transportation, such as bus and rail Constructing several highway improvements, including: Improve connection to Albany International Airport by constructing a new interchange at Exit 3 Improve Interstate 87 and Interstate 90 along New York State Thruway between Exit 21A (Junction New York 23) and Exit 25A (Junction Interstate 88 West), including interchange reconstruction, merge revisions, and additional lanes Improve New York 73 from Interstate 87 northwest to Lake Placid via High Peaks, including realignment of U.S. 9 intersection and installation of safety turnouts and erosion control measures Reconstruct Interstate 87 between Exit 1 (Junction Interstate 90) and Exit 8 (Junction Saratoga County Route 92/Crescent Road) Construct direct access to Luther Forest Technology Campus (LFTC) in the town of Malta between Exits 11 and 12 Improve access to State University of New York at Albany technology hub Improve Exit 18 on Adirondack Northway segment (Corinth Road) in town of Queensbury Construct improved corridor along New York 149, U.S. 9, New York 22, and U.S. 4 from Glens Falls northeast to Vermont State Line, including possible bypass routes around impacted communities and interchange improvements with Interstate 87 Improve the International Port of Entry at Champlain-Lacolle Border Crossing Improve or replace the Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River Improve access to Selkirk Railroad Yard in Albany County, including a connection to U.S. 9W in lieu of existing New York 396 or New York 144 Improve commercial vehicle access to port of Albany via Interstate 787, including improvements and direct access at Exit 23 Install HOT (high occupancy vehicle/toll lanes) along Interstate 87 and Interstate 90 in the vicinity of Albany Constructing waterway improvements, especially in and around the Port of Albany in southern Albany and along the Hudson River and navigable waterways between Coxsackie and the St. Lawrence River Status The final corridor study was completed in August 2005. Construction of the various projects along the route are subject to approval within the context of the corridor study. Links For more information on and status of proposed improvements to Interstate 87, visit: Interstate 87 Corridor Documents High Speed Rail Study Page Updated November 18, 2005.