New York

[webny99]

The Bowtie is pretty cool visually, but quite confusing to drive as a non-local. Each direction of US 9 has three exits and three entrances in just a 1/4 mile stretch.

[machias]

Free 90 shouldn't have to wait for the Thruway to get their act together when it comes exit renumbering. It's not a lot of exits and it could easily be done on the next sign rehab project, with or without the support of the Thruway.

The Northway should be approached the same way, but that's a multi region coordinated effort so it might take a little more of a push.  As long as they start the Northway mileposts at 156.5 and not 148.1, it seems like it would be easy to do.

[kalvado]

Free 90 shouldn't have to wait for the Thruway to get their act together when it comes exit renumbering. It's not a lot of exits and it could easily be done on the next sign rehab project, with or without the support of the Thruway.

The Northway should be approached the same way, but that's a multi region coordinated effort so it might take a little more of a push.  As long as they start the Northway mileposts at 156.5 and not 148.1, it seems like it would be easy to do.

Nice idea... That's when one may realize that the current government spending cut is way overdue....

[vdeane]

What on earth is going on with this interchange? Has anyone here driven this? Does it work?

It's been studied for reconfiguration.  DCTC has the report including interchange concepts online.

Free 90 shouldn't have to wait for the Thruway to get their act together when it comes exit renumbering. It's not a lot of exits and it could easily be done on the next sign rehab project, with or without the support of the Thruway.

The Northway should be approached the same way, but that's a multi region coordinated effort so it might take a little more of a push.  As long as they start the Northway mileposts at 156.5 and not 148.1, it seems like it would be easy to do.

Given the way there have been piecemeal replacements of overhead signs and others around Region 1, I'm not expecting any full-scale corridor sign replacements any time soon here.  I wonder if anyone is still tossing around the idea of re-routing on the Berkshire Spur... the deck replacement projects included the installation of a median barrier (oddly enough, the new deck reminds me of the old Tappan Zee; I wonder if it includes any of those deck panels).

(personal opinion)

[The Ghostbuster]

New York City now has until March 21st to shut down its congestion pricing system.

[kalvado]

New York City now has until March 21st to shut down its congestion pricing system.

3 weeks of NYC being busy and not messing up

[Plutonic Panda]

New York City now has until March 21st to shut down its congestion pricing system.

Good and they need to dismantle the tolling infrastructure.

[Roadgeek Adam]

No, they should quintuple the cost and force people onto transit.

This is working.

[kalvado]

No, they should quintuple the cost and force people onto transit.

This is working.

And make them pay full cost of transit. Including those who jump the barrier

[PColumbus73]

No, they should quintuple the cost and force people onto transit.

This is working.

And make them pay full cost of transit. Including those who jump the barrier

Build a wall on the Hudson and make New Jersey pay for it? 

[crispy93]

What on earth is going on with this interchange? Has anyone here driven this? Does it work?

I drive through it twice a day. It's a mess. The crash rate is through the roof (it's like a local rite of passage to rear-end someone there, me included). I don't know how I'd redo it considering the narrow footprint. Maybe a diamond placed in the median like the 9A/117 interchange in Westchester? https://maps.app.goo.gl/Nsw8Fmu87uEMVTiN7

Speaking of crash rates, is there a "worst crash rate in NYS" Razzie award? I would guess is the Southern State Parkway, I once asked NYSDOT for the crash rate on the Nassau section and it was something absurd like 12.0 per million vehicle miles whereas NY-135 was 1.00 and the Taconic was 0.84.

[Ted$8roadFan]

ICYMI, big plans are in the works for a possible makeover of Downtown Albany; including possibly removing I-787.

https://www.cityandstateny.com/policy/2025/03/ambitious-plan-make-albany-great-again/403424/?oref=csny-homepage-river

[The Ghostbuster]

Does anyone believe Interstate 787 will eventually be torn down? I would be fine with downgrading the interchange with the S. Mall Arterial/Dunn Memorial Bridge but think the freeway (and its Interstate designation) should be maintained as much as possible.

[kalvado]

Does anyone believe Interstate 787 will eventually be torn down? I would be fine with downgrading the interchange with the S. Mall Arterial/Dunn Memorial Bridge but think the freeway (and its Interstate designation) should be maintained as much as possible.

I bet 787 would not be rebuilt once significant problems with existing structure develop. Would removal make any good to Albany? Hard to believe.
A somewhat related question here would be about the service life of Empire state plaza. It's hitting 50 year mark, 25 years after big renovation, and I wonder how sound the structure is. Typically quoted life for these structures is 50-70-100 years. That, and future setup of NYS government operations, may be an important factor for 787.

[Rothman]

I like a better connection to the waterfront, but traveling north to south is difficult as is in Albany (also due to the country club just south of it).

Whatever the simulator says the area can handle...

[kalvado]

I like a better connection to the waterfront, but traveling north to south is difficult as is in Albany (also due to the country club just south of it).

Whatever the simulator says the area can handle...

85-thruway interchange can help a little bit.

[Rothman]

I like a better connection to the waterfront, but traveling north to south is difficult as is in Albany (also due to the country club just south of it).

Whatever the simulator says the area can handle...

85-thruway interchange can help a little bit.

Over NYSTA's dead body.  Also, wetlands and proximity to Krumkill Road interchange...

[kalvado]

I like a better connection to the waterfront, but traveling north to south is difficult as is in Albany (also due to the country club just south of it).

Whatever the simulator says the area can handle...

85-thruway interchange can help a little bit.

Over NYSTA's dead body.  Also, wetlands and proximity to Krumkill Road interchange...

What is the problem with authority - until they are paying for the project?
As for interchange being too close - 85 isnt even a divided highway at that point.

[Rothman]

I like a better connection to the waterfront, but traveling north to south is difficult as is in Albany (also due to the country club just south of it).

Whatever the simulator says the area can handle...

85-thruway interchange can help a little bit.

Over NYSTA's dead body.  Also, wetlands and proximity to Krumkill Road interchange...

What is the problem with authority - until they are paying for the project?
As for interchange being too close - 85 isnt even a divided highway at that point.

Not sure what you're talking about here.  Every new access point to the NYSTA requires board approval and their assumption of cost.  There was all that excitement a few years ago about the possibility of a couple of new interchanges -- they haven't come to fruition, to say the least.  The longer you stay on the Thruway, the better for them, is how they see it.

I don't see how being just beyond the end of the divided highway makes a difference, given the need for connections that close to Krumkill Road.

[vdeane]

I'd love to see a Thruway/NY 85 interchange.  Getting from that area to/from the Thruway requires going way out of your way as it is.  That said, I wouldn't do it as a freeway/freeway interchange.  A diamond interchange with roundabouts (similar to Northway exit 12) should work fine (the AADTs on NY 85 and NY 67 are similar), and it would have the benefit of making the two-lane portion west of the Thruway feel like less of a freeway.

Not sure how much I-787 traffic it would alleviate, however.

(personal opinion)

[kalvado]

Not sure what you're talking about here.  Every new access point to the NYSTA requires board approval and their assumption of cost.  There was all that excitement a few years ago about the possibility of a couple of new interchanges -- they haven't come to fruition, to say the least.  The longer you stay on the Thruway, the better for them, is how they see it.

I don't see how being just beyond the end of the divided highway makes a difference, given the need for connections that close to Krumkill Road.

Question is who pays for the interchange? Looks like you implied answer is "Thruway" - then I certainly understand the point. I wonder if a different answer is possible as part of 787 downgrade package.
And while extra exit can mean shorter trips, it can also mean longer trips and  extra trips. My rough guess would be more traffic after all.
85 is a mix of divided limited access highway north of that point, an undivided limited access with roundabouts south of that point, eventually going to a arterial street. You want to give it an interstate -like treatment, I am saying it may not approach interstate standards even within it glorious mile. That includes access points spacing.

[Rothman]

Not sure what you're talking about here.  Every new access point to the NYSTA requires board approval and their assumption of cost.  There was all that excitement a few years ago about the possibility of a couple of new interchanges -- they haven't come to fruition, to say the least.  The longer you stay on the Thruway, the better for them, is how they see it.

I don't see how being just beyond the end of the divided highway makes a difference, given the need for connections that close to Krumkill Road.

Question is who pays for the interchange? Looks like you implied answer is "Thruway" - then I certainly understand the point. I wonder if a different answer is possible as part of 787 downgrade package.
And while extra exit can mean shorter trips, it can also mean longer trips and  extra trips. My rough guess would be more traffic after all.
85 is a mix of divided limited access highway north of that point, an undivided limited access with roundabouts south of that point, eventually going to a arterial street. You want to give it an interstate -like treatment, I am saying it may not approach interstate standards even within it glorious mile. That includes access points spacing.

Yes, the Thruway would have to pay for it.

As someone who used that route to commute, I'm still baffled by the rest of your argument.  Adding another access point at that location with lights or more roundabouts or whatnot (which probably wouldn't be possible anyway, due to the transition between limited and unlimited access) would rile up a lot of people in Bethlehem/Guilderland/Selkirk and even Albany itself.  So, you look at an interchange and the wetlands issue...which are all moot, anyway, since NYSTA is never going for this.

[roadman65]

I see a fire erupted somewhere on Long Island that was heavy smoke on one of the roads.

[Rothman]

I see a fire erupted somewhere on Long Island that was heavy smoke on one of the roads.

That is what was mentioned in the Wildfire Thread: https://www.aaroads.com/forum/index.php?topic=32127.400

[kalvado]

Not sure what you're talking about here.  Every new access point to the NYSTA requires board approval and their assumption of cost.  There was all that excitement a few years ago about the possibility of a couple of new interchanges -- they haven't come to fruition, to say the least.  The longer you stay on the Thruway, the better for them, is how they see it.

I don't see how being just beyond the end of the divided highway makes a difference, given the need for connections that close to Krumkill Road.

Question is who pays for the interchange? Looks like you implied answer is "Thruway" - then I certainly understand the point. I wonder if a different answer is possible as part of 787 downgrade package.
And while extra exit can mean shorter trips, it can also mean longer trips and  extra trips. My rough guess would be more traffic after all.
85 is a mix of divided limited access highway north of that point, an undivided limited access with roundabouts south of that point, eventually going to a arterial street. You want to give it an interstate -like treatment, I am saying it may not approach interstate standards even within it glorious mile. That includes access points spacing.

Yes, the Thruway would have to pay for it.

As someone who used that route to commute, I'm still baffled by the rest of your argument.  Adding another access point at that location with lights or more roundabouts or whatnot (which probably wouldn't be possible anyway, due to the transition between limited and unlimited access) would rile up a lot of people in Bethlehem/Guilderland/Selkirk and even Albany itself.  So, you look at an interchange and the wetlands issue...which are all moot, anyway, since NYSTA is never going for this.

Never is a big word. But just focusing on that specific issue, maybe to better understand relationships between DOT and Thruway.
Do you think governor would have a way to change the situation? Administrative, or fiscal? A grant for that specific project maybe?
Because I can see 787 removal becoming a big political thing, and some traffic mitigation could help finding common ground, so I can see people working on that specific interchange happening.