I-787 News

[froggie]

It's not.  It's a minimal shoulder where the climbing lane exists.  There's one pull-off just past the Boght Rd overpass, otherwise the shoulder doesn't widen out to something usable until you're almost to the US 9 exit.

[cl94]

It's not.  It's a minimal shoulder where the climbing lane exists.  There's one pull-off just past the Boght Rd overpass, otherwise the shoulder doesn't widen out to something usable until you're almost to the US 9 exit.

You'd be surprised how often I see cars parked on that shoulder. Right lane traffic gets along just fine.

[froggie]

They're probably parking some off the pavement.  The pavement proper is only about 4-5ft wide.

[vdeane]

Plus there's a cable guiderail in at least a few spots.

[Conn. Roads]

Sorry about my mention of Alternate 7. Was the part of Route 2 from Watervliet originally duplex route numbers with 7, before the expressway was built? I have only lived here since the early 2000s, and all the traffic reporters say Alt. 7.

If 787 was extended through Waterford, how could they route it through the village? Could it hop to Green Island, and follow the old rail line? 32 is narrow through the village, and the left to continue to Mechanicville always backs up.

If 787 did come out on the Northway near exit 10-11, it could more or less divert the travelers from above Clifton Park. Is there a figure on how many Albany commuters are from Ballston, Malta, Saratoga, Wilton, and Glens Falls/Queensbury? As I said in my first post, some from up north may still use 87 all the way, if the job is in the western parts of Albany, or Colonie. The new route could divert some downtown bound traffic.

This is not road related, but there were commuter train proposals about 10 years ago. This is something that had been, but was lost due to people switching to the now choked Northway.

[Snappyjack]

NY 2 used to be NY 7 exclusively, then 7 was rerouted onto the expressway. Why the Alt. 7 name stuck is beyond me.

[cl94]

Some form of commuter and/or light rail would be wonderful, but I'm not convinced people live/work close enough to the tracks to make it worthwhile.

787 would have to go around the west side of Waterford, head north from there, and turn west near the Mechanicville rail yard. That area is a nightmare and I avoid it unless I'm getting gas at the Cohoes Cumbies, which is always 10-15 cents cheaper than every other gas station in the area. Region 1 is putting in an FYA at the intersection you mentioned and that might help a little bit. River Road on the east side being discontinuous doesn't help matters.

How many commuters come from north of Exit 10? A lot. Numbers drop off dramatically north of Exit 20. From growing up in Queensbury, I can say that my father was far from the only person who commuted to Albany.

[Jim]

NY 2 used to be NY 7 exclusively, then 7 was rerouted onto the expressway. Why the Alt. 7 name stuck is beyond me.

I expect this is what you meant, but just to clarify, the Latham to Troy segment of current NY 2 was NY 7 before "Alternate 7" opened.  Troy to the Massachusetts line was already NY 2.

[cl94]

NY 2 used to be NY 7 exclusively, then 7 was rerouted onto the expressway. Why the Alt. 7 name stuck is beyond me.

I expect this is what you meant, but just to clarify, the Latham to Troy segment of current NY 2 was NY 7 before "Alternate 7" opened.  Troy to the Massachusetts line was already NY 2.

Specifically, east of 15th Street (after NY 2 was truncated from being routed across the Menands Bridge to Downtown Albany). NY 7 cut up 15th Street through the middle of RPI, at one point concurrent with NY 40 on that stretch. There are a few very old state-spec signs a little north of NY 2 that are the only standing relics I know of. The shields for NY 2 east heading SB on 15th Street appear significantly older than those for WB and likely predate the change.

Alternate 7, as we've mentioned before, might be the most common name for that expressway. Traffic reports refer to it as that almost exclusively.

Of course, NY 7 used to be NY 9, consistent with VT/NH/ME 9, but that designation went away when US 9 was designated.

[Rothman]

Sorry about my mention of Alternate 7.

Just joshin' ya.

[Conn. Roads]

Thanks for giving me a history lesson about our area. As my user name points out, Connecticut roads are my real passion. Kurumi.com is one of my favorite sites. One of their links sent me here.

I used to like to go on road trips with older relatives. It fascinated me when they would point out a rerouting, or road changes due to the 1955 floods, or how the trolley line ran down the street.

Thanks for the help, and I have thick enough skin to take the kidding. It makes me feel welcome.

One last question. You said that NY7 was NY 9, which was a continuation on VT 9. I used to commute to Binghamton. Was the stretch through Latham, Schemectady....Cobelskill.....Oneonta.....Bingo 9 too?

[cl94]

NY 7 north/east of Binghamton was designated as NY 9 as part of the 1924 initial signing of state routes. It was redesignated in 1927 to avoid duplicating US 9. A couple minor realignments and an extension to the PA line have occurred west of Schenectady and NY 7 was one of the few routes to get through the 1930 renumbering. Had US 9 not been designated in New York, NY 9 would likely be one of the few original destinations to exist in the modern day.

[Alps]

NY 7 north/east of Binghamton was designated as NY 9 as part of the 1924 initial signing of state routes. It was redesignated in 1927 to avoid duplicating US 9. A couple minor realignments and an extension to the PA line have occurred west of Schenectady and NY 7 was one of the few routes to get through the 1930 renumbering. Had US 9 not been designated in New York, NY 9 would likely be one of the few original destinations to exist in the modern day.

We're getting rather far afield here, but what was NY 7 designated before 1927?

[cl94]

NY 7 north/east of Binghamton was designated as NY 9 as part of the 1924 initial signing of state routes. It was redesignated in 1927 to avoid duplicating US 9. A couple minor realignments and an extension to the PA line have occurred west of Schenectady and NY 7 was one of the few routes to get through the 1930 renumbering. Had US 9 not been designated in New York, NY 9 would likely be one of the few original destinations to exist in the modern day.

We're getting rather far afield here, but what was NY 7 designated before 1927?

NY 9, as I stated in the quote, as a western continuation of New England Route 9.

[Alps]

NY 7 north/east of Binghamton was designated as NY 9 as part of the 1924 initial signing of state routes. It was redesignated in 1927 to avoid duplicating US 9. A couple minor realignments and an extension to the PA line have occurred west of Schenectady and NY 7 was one of the few routes to get through the 1930 renumbering. Had US 9 not been designated in New York, NY 9 would likely be one of the few original destinations to exist in the modern day.

We're getting rather far afield here, but what was NY 7 designated before 1927?

NY 9, as I stated in the quote, as a western continuation of New England Route 9.

No, the opposite question. Where was 7?

[cl94]

NY 7 north/east of Binghamton was designated as NY 9 as part of the 1924 initial signing of state routes. It was redesignated in 1927 to avoid duplicating US 9. A couple minor realignments and an extension to the PA line have occurred west of Schenectady and NY 7 was one of the few routes to get through the 1930 renumbering. Had US 9 not been designated in New York, NY 9 would likely be one of the few original destinations to exist in the modern day.

We're getting rather far afield here, but what was NY 7 designated before 1927?

NY 9, as I stated in the quote, as a western continuation of New England Route 9.

No, the opposite question. Where was 7?

Modern NY 954L, NY 130 and US 20 between downtown Buffalo and Albany. The portion west of Avon was renumbered NY 35, becoming US 20 in the late 30s after it was straightened and a few grade separations were added.