NY 17 / I-86 Conversion Resurrected?

[GenExpwy]

Meanwhile Region 6 seems to want to hold on to NY 17. Project D263125, I-86 from Exit 46 to the Chemung County line, includes replacing signs including new NY 17 signs.

[Rothman]

The exit 131 project is in the budget.  As for everything else, I wouldn't be surprised if I-86 is eventually done, even if it takes 50 years, if only because everything left besides Hale Eddy is the type of stuff that would be addressed in a substantial rehabilitation/reconstruction, which will almost certainly have to happen eventually.

50 years might be a safe bet.

A more interesting bet would be if Hale Eddy to Hancock is done by the time I retire.

[vdeane]

Meanwhile Region 6 seems to want to hold on to NY 17. Project D263125, I-86 from Exit 46 to the Chemung County line, includes replacing signs including new NY 17 signs.

Depends on the traffic engineer.  The past two wanted to take down the NY 17 signs when doing projects.  The current one directs the signage person to replace in kind.  Honestly, IMO they should be taking down the NY 17 signs... I hate pointless overlaps.

[The Ghostbuster]

I would get rid of the Interstate 86/NY 17 duplex and let the road just be Interstate 86.

[machias]

Meanwhile Region 6 seems to want to hold on to NY 17. Project D263125, I-86 from Exit 46 to the Chemung County line, includes replacing signs including new NY 17 signs.

Depends on the traffic engineer.  The past two wanted to take down the NY 17 signs when doing projects.  The current one directs the signage person to replace in kind.  Honestly, IMO they should be taking down the NY 17 signs... I hate pointless overlaps.

I hate "replace in kind".  Circumstances change, priorities change, traffic patterns change, signing standards and expectations change. Some traffic engineers are just afraid or too lazy to think.

[GreenLanternCorps]

What is the current status of I-86 construction in New York?  Where, if anywhere are they currently working on upgrading the highway to interstate standards?

[empirestate]

What is the current status of I-86 construction in New York?  Where, if anywhere are they currently working on upgrading the highway to interstate standards?

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

[Rothman]

Outside of Prospect Mountain (a/k/a Kamikaze Curve), not a whole lot is going on currently.  Exit 131 (Woodbury Commons) is tentatively scheduled to be let in 2018, but you can place your bets as to whether that'll happen or not.  Hale Eddy to Hancock isn't in the current program at all.

One problem is that since there was the push to do the conversion some years ago, a few of the conversion projects designs were started.  However, because they never proceeded to ROW or construction, they may be at risk at running afoul of the FHWA's 10-year PE rule, where the design money may need to be paid back ("FAINed," as they say).  Not really seeing NYSDOT going ahead with the projects and NYSDOT will probably just pay back the design funds, but it's an interesting situation.

(personal opinion emphasized)

[yakra]

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

East of I-81, I'm assuming. How about along the I-81 multiplex?

[cl94]

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

East of I-81, I'm assuming. How about along the I-81 multiplex?

All of the current work is happening on the multiplex. They're braiding the NY 7 ramps with the interchange just west of the river.

[The Ghostbuster]

The only part I'm most concerned about is the section between Exit 84 and Exit 87. Still no plans to convert that section to freeway standards?

[cl94]

The only part I'm most concerned about is the section between Exit 84 and Exit 87. Still no plans to convert that section to freeway standards?

None. Hale Eddy is staying as it is for the foreseeable future.

[Roadgeek Adam]

There's still no reason to do anything there. Just make I-86 shields quietly disappear through that stretch and leave it alone. Volume is still too low.

[empirestate]

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

East of I-81, I'm assuming. How about along the I-81 multiplex?

Along the multiplex is what I mean.

There's still no reason to do anything there. Just make I-86 shields quietly disappear through that stretch and leave it alone. Volume is still too low.

Have to agree; other than for the designation itself, I have a hard time seeing a Hale Eddy upgrade as necessary (same with Parksville, but that's already done).

[vdeane]

I remember when Rothman posted that project list and there was something listed for western Broome County.  I wonder if that would have been rolled into the Prospect Mountain projects, given that it seems that I-86 will be designated between US 220 and I-81 when Phase II is complete?  I'm curious what it could be; my guess would be something to do with exit 68.

[GreenLanternCorps]

What is the current status of I-86 construction in New York?  Where, if anywhere are they currently working on upgrading the highway to interstate standards?

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

So, looking at the map, the construction is where NY-17 meets I-81 on the Eastern side of Binghamton. 

I found the NYDOT page on the project.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/prospectmountain

It is lacking in detail.

Does anyone know how much of NY-17 will be signed as I-86 after the construction is done?  From the map it looks like all of the I-86/I-81 overlap.  And at least some of NY-17 going east.  But maps can be deceiving.  How much of NY-17 going from South Waverly to I-81 is at interstate standards already?

[empirestate]

What is the current status of I-86 construction in New York?  Where, if anywhere are they currently working on upgrading the highway to interstate standards?

The Binghamton project is still going. I went through on New Year's Eve, and I-86 shields were now fully displayed from the I-81 junction. Most of the work seems to have shifted to the NY 7 interchange now (didn't see what was happening west of I-81).

So, looking at the map, the construction is where NY-17 meets I-81 on the Eastern side of Binghamton. 

I found the NYDOT page on the project.

https://www.dot.ny.gov/prospectmountain

It is lacking in detail.

Does anyone know how much of NY-17 will be signed as I-86 after the construction is done?  From the map it looks like all of the I-86/I-81 overlap.  And at least some of NY-17 going east.  But maps can be deceiving.  How much of NY-17 going from South Waverly to I-81 is at interstate standards already?

This is what I'm saying...the overlap is now signed as both I-81 and I-86 (at least on guide signage coming from the north). That's the stretch east of the Prospect Mountain project, which is at the western junction of I-81 and I-86. That junction, while pretty far east in the metro area overall, is situated on the western end of Binghamton proper. Construction-wise, work has now shifted from the junction itself to the interchange with NY 7, which is situated along the overlap.

At the eastern junction of I-81 and I-86, signage had already been posted for I-86 as far eastward as Windsor; that's been the case for several years. So now, I-86 is signed at least from its western junction with I-81, eastward to Windsor.

As I say, I didn't go west of I-81, so I don't know if I-86 has also been extended westward, which was your other question (along with the rest of us, I would say). All we ever seem to hear is that "a few spots" in Tioga County need updating to Interstate standards, but I've had a hard time finding out exactly what and where, or whether any work is actually happening to address them. Certainly, the stretch immediately west of I-81 is newly reconstructed, so it should be possible to sign I-86 at least a little ways west toward Johnson City, if not all the way to Waverly.

[yakra]

My question above was poorly worded. But anyway. I'm trying to figure out whether, for the TravelMapping project, the I-81 multiplex should be taken out of the Future I-86 file and added to I-86 proper instead.
Is I-86 fully signed along the overlap now in both directions? north/westbound too?

[cl94]

Officially, there's still a gap between Exits 61 and 72. It is signed both entering WB and mainline WB at Exit 61. As far as the multiplex, it is questionable, as the designation hasn't been approved.

[empirestate]

My question above was poorly worded. But anyway. I'm trying to figure out whether, for the TravelMapping project, the I-81 multiplex should be taken out of the Future I-86 file and added to I-86 proper instead.
Is I-86 fully signed along the overlap now in both directions? north/westbound too?

Don't know about north/westbound. Someone closer by will have to check on that; I won't be back in that area anytime soon.

[Bumppoman]

I-86 is fully signed on the multiplex in both directions.  New signage at exit 4 onramps also indicates I-86.

West of the I-81/I-86 junction, signage is hit and miss at this time as far west as exit 67.  Onramps at exits 71, 70, and 67 all indicate I-86 in both directions.  Exits 72 and 68 have I-86 signage with temporary "TO" markers attached.  Exit 69 indicates I-86 westbound but only NY-17 eastbound.  On the highway itself, all of the reassurance shields have a temporary "TO" above.

[TravelingBethelite]

I-86 is fully signed on the multiplex in both directions.  New signage at exit 4 onramps also indicates I-86.

West of the I-81/I-86 junction, signage is hit and miss at this time as far west as exit 67.  Onramps at exits 71, 70, and 67 all indicate I-86 in both directions.  Exits 72 and 68 have I-86 signage with temporary "TO" markers attached.  Exit 69 indicates I-86 westbound but only NY-17 eastbound.  On the highway itself, all of the reassurance shields have a temporary "TO" above.

This standard is similar for the 20 miles, on westbound, east of Binghamton.

[vdeane]

For Tioga County, I believe the issues were mainly acceleration/deceleration lane length... at least, that's the only work that was obvious.  The project was done a few years ago.  The Broome County project would have been west of the Binghamton city line... no idea if that was done, what it is/was, if it was rolled into something else, or if NYSDOT plans to sign I-86 without doing it.

[TravelingBethelite]

For Tioga County, I believe the issues were mainly acceleration/deceleration lane length... at least, that's the only work that was obvious.  The project was done a few years ago.  The Broome County project would have been west of the Binghamton city line... no idea if that was done, what it is/was, if it was rolled into something else, or if NYSDOT plans to sign I-86 without doing it.

The only "work" I noticed in that area when I was last up there (August) was a continuous line of construction barrels along the right shoulder between Exit 70S and Exit 66...no more.

[vdeane]

Interesting... I wonder if something was up with the shoulders.