NY 17 / I-86 Conversion Resurrected?

[bzakharin]

Tell that to PA.  They are still using sequential exit numbers for PA-28, even though all the Interstates (& PA Turnpike routes) were converted back in 2000.

Also, 16 years later, I think it's time to remove the "Old Ext 32" (e.g.) signs, don't you?  If someone's coming to PA and they remember the way they went > 16 years ago was to take "exit 32" someplace and it's now exit 257 or something... well, either they don't go to that place often enough and/or should distrust their memory.

Maybe not in PA, but if the NJ Turnpike ever goes mileage-based, it will be a long time until people adjust.

[cl94]

Tell that to PA.  They are still using sequential exit numbers for PA-28, even though all the Interstates (& PA Turnpike routes) were converted back in 2000.

Also, 16 years later, I think it's time to remove the "Old Ext 32" (e.g.) signs, don't you?  If someone's coming to PA and they remember the way they went > 16 years ago was to take "exit 32" someplace and it's now exit 257 or something... well, either they don't go to that place often enough and/or should distrust their memory.

Maybe not in PA, but if the NJ Turnpike ever goes mileage-based, it will be a long time until people adjust.

The exit numbers are ingrained into the culture ("what exit?"). A similar thing exists along the Northway (I-87) in the Albany area to the point where businesses have "Exit X" in the name (Exit 9 Wine and Liquor, Exit 11 Truck Stop, etc.).

[Duke87]

The exit numbers are ingrained into the culture ("what exit?"). A similar thing exists along the Northway (I-87) in the Albany area to the point where businesses have "Exit X" in the name (Exit 9 Wine and Liquor, Exit 11 Truck Stop, etc.).

There were several businesses in Maine that were named after the old sequential exit numbers on I-95. Didn't stop them from changing.

[machias]

The exit numbers are ingrained into the culture ("what exit?"). A similar thing exists along the Northway (I-87) in the Albany area to the point where businesses have "Exit X" in the name (Exit 9 Wine and Liquor, Exit 11 Truck Stop, etc.).

There were several businesses in Maine that were named after the old sequential exit numbers on I-95. Didn't stop them from changing.

Same thing happened along I-81 in Pennsylvania north of Scranton.  They adapted to the new exit numbers and I don't think anyone's head exploded in the process.

[jp the roadgeek]

The exit numbers are ingrained into the culture ("what exit?"). A similar thing exists along the Northway (I-87) in the Albany area to the point where businesses have "Exit X" in the name (Exit 9 Wine and Liquor, Exit 11 Truck Stop, etc.).

There were several businesses in Maine that were named after the old sequential exit numbers on I-95. Didn't stop them from changing.

Same thing happened along I-81 in Pennsylvania north of Scranton.  They adapted to the new exit numbers and I don't think anyone's head exploded in the process.

This saying is why the NJTP exits will never be renumbered:

http://www.cafalawblog.com/uploads/image/New%20Jersey.jpg

And I had relatives who ran a gas station named after an exit off of I-91 in VT

[roadman65]

What about the Palisades Parkway?  It has joint sequential numbering with NJ.  Will they ever renumber it anytime?

They did do a number overhaul back in 1987 where the eliminated the A suffix exits as well as added numbers to the Anthony Wayne Recreation Area and US 6, which both never had numbers as 14A was for Lake Welch Drive  to the south of it and 15 was the Seven Lakes Drive exit north of the US 6 merge.
I am sure that those back then got used to it when it happened especially north of the NY Thruway.

Also how about I-95 with its musical chairs exit numbering  all along the Cross Bronx Expressway?  I am sure that created the most confusion for motorists in the Bronx.

[empirestate]

Also how about I-95 with its musical chairs exit numbering  all along the Cross Bronx Expressway?  I am sure that created the most confusion for motorists in the Bronx.

Of all the things confusing motorists in the Bronx, I can assure you with 100% certainty that exit numbering is not chief among them.

[cl94]

Also how about I-95 with its musical chairs exit numbering  all along the Cross Bronx Expressway?  I am sure that created the most confusion for motorists in the Bronx.

Of all the things confusing motorists in the Bronx, I can assure you with 100% certainty that exit numbering is not chief among them.

I agree. Exit numbers aren't a huge concern.

[roadman65]

My point was, confusion or not, the exit numbers happened there and on the nearby PIP.  I am sure if any cried over the ordeal they have gotten over it. 

On the PIP, I was always amazed that the US 6 split was never given an exit number originally.  I am guessing they applied the same principal as PennDOT did with PA's interstate to interstate connections that VTrans still has on I-91 at I-89.

Anyway, like it or not, they will get over it and with people of the Bronx, most do not drive anyway so to them who cares if the Major Deegan is Exit 1C or 2A.  Plus names always seemed to be the issue from what I remember living up there.  Who ever used the numbers as reference points anyhow anywhere in NYC or Nassau and Westchester?

[vdeane]

On the PIP, I was always amazed that the US 6 split was never given an exit number originally.  I am guessing they applied the same principal as PennDOT did with PA's interstate to interstate connections that VTrans still has on I-91 at I-89.

That was NYSDOT policy for a while.  Most of the numbered interstate-interstate connections are either suffixed or on roads that were first numbered after the policy changed.

[cl94]

On the PIP, I was always amazed that the US 6 split was never given an exit number originally.  I am guessing they applied the same principal as PennDOT did with PA's interstate to interstate connections that VTrans still has on I-91 at I-89.

That was NYSDOT policy for a while.  Most of the numbered interstate-interstate connections are either suffixed or on roads that were first numbered after the policy changed.

While some (I-690/I-81, I-81/I-88) remain unnumbered. A very notable exception was always Albany's Exit 1, which was numbered as such when the policy existed (we know this because of Exit 6A).

[vdeane]

Exit 1 is technically for US 9W, despite SB signage (no doubt from back when the Northway was supposed to parallel the Thruway to I-787).  More notable is I-787 exit 5 and unbuilt Northway exit 3.

[cl94]

Exit 1 is technically for US 9W, despite SB signage (no doubt from back when the Northway was supposed to parallel the Thruway to I-787).  More notable is I-787 exit 5 and unbuilt Northway exit 3.

I meant the other Exit 1 (also technically in Albany). Thought I was clear about that. My apologies.

[machias]

On the PIP, I was always amazed that the US 6 split was never given an exit number originally.  I am guessing they applied the same principal as PennDOT did with PA's interstate to interstate connections that VTrans still has on I-91 at I-89.

That was NYSDOT policy for a while.  Most of the numbered interstate-interstate connections are either suffixed or on roads that were first numbered after the policy changed.

While some (I-690/I-81, I-81/I-88) remain unnumbered. A very notable exception was always Albany's Exit 1, which was numbered as such when the policy existed (we know this because of Exit 6A).

I always found it interesting that I-81/NY 17 west is unnumbered as well, like they always planned for NY 17 west of Binghamton to be an interstate. I-81 South to NY 17 east is unnumbered, but I-81 north to NY 17 east is numbered exit 2E.

I-81 to I-90 wasn't numbered until 1984.

[empirestate]

My point was, confusion or not, the exit numbers happened there and on the nearby PIP.  I am sure if any cried over the ordeal they have gotten over it.

And mine was simply to take a jab at the overall confusedness of drivers in the Bronx.

Anyway, like it or not, they will get over it and with people of the Bronx, most do not drive anyway so to them who cares if the Major Deegan is Exit 1C or 2A.  Plus names always seemed to be the issue from what I remember living up there.  Who ever used the numbers as reference points anyhow anywhere in NYC or Nassau and Westchester?

Actually, I used to live right by Exit 11 on the Deegan and would refer to it as such–and I wasn't the first to do so. But in that case it was more expeditious to say "Exit 11" than "Van Cortlandt Park South"; overall, the practice is rare.

[roadman65]

I have no idea, really, what up in the big city.  All I know is the traffic reports never use exit numbers.  WINS, WCBS, and other would say names as reference points.  On the LIE it was always places along the way such as "The Fairgrounds to the Tanks" as the greatest choke point along the road.   

[vdeane]

I always found it interesting that I-81/NY 17 west is unnumbered as well, like they always planned for NY 17 west of Binghamton to be an interstate. I-81 South to NY 17 east is unnumbered, but I-81 north to NY 17 east is numbered exit 2E.

I-81 to I-90 wasn't numbered until 1984.

I recall reading on the 3di guide that I-390 was originally supposed to be numbered I-486, which would point to that proposal being much older than 1999.

I presume I-81 south to NY 17 east is unnumbered because it's technically the freeway mainline.

[cl94]

I always found it interesting that I-81/NY 17 west is unnumbered as well, like they always planned for NY 17 west of Binghamton to be an interstate. I-81 South to NY 17 east is unnumbered, but I-81 north to NY 17 east is numbered exit 2E.

I-81 to I-90 wasn't numbered until 1984.

I recall reading on the 3di guide that I-390 was originally supposed to be numbered I-486, which would point to that proposal being much older than 1999.

I presume I-81 south to NY 17 east is unnumbered because it's technically the freeway mainline.

From what I can gather, the portion from the Chautauqua Lake bridge west was always intended to be part of the Interstate system.

I-390 is also relatively recent. There was a portion near the southern end that was a super two until the 80s. My dad remembers it from visiting his stepbrother at Geneseo in the early 80s and one bridge on one of the sides was not complete. I think it this bridge. Notice the two different types of guardrail.

[vdeane]

According to the 3di guide, I-486 was proposed as far back as 1971.
http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix86.html

[cl94]

According to the 3di guide, I-486 was proposed as far back as 1971.
http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix86.html

Not surprising. The portion of I-86 west of I-390 is pretty unnecessary without a connection to I-90 in Pennsylvania, so it makes sense that I-86 was in long-range plans when NY 17 was being upgraded.

[okc1]

I recall hearings for what is now 390 back in the 60's when it was proposed as NY 401.  The portion completed when the 390 designation took place (between Dansville and Wayland) was temporarily designated NY245.

The two-lane portion was over wetlands between exits 6 and 7, where there was difficulty getting the soil to stabilize.

[froggie]

According to the 3di guide, I-486 was proposed as far back as 1971.
http://www.kurumi.com/roads/3di/ix86.html

Something similar to I-390 and I-86 was requested in 1970 from then-BPR as a result of the 1968 Highway Act that added 1500 miles to the system.

[NJRoadfan]

Looks like NYSDOT really wants to sign I-86 west of I-84. There is one lone JCT I-86 sign uncovered on NY-211 at NY-17. There are also END I-86 signs in place but covered eastbound at the I-84 interchange. I can see why the NY-32 ramp needs to be rebuilt (the overpass is kinda old and falling apart, loop ramp from NY-17N to W is tight), but it really shouldn't hold up an interstate designation. Maybe they can get the NYSTA to pay for it, after all it could technically be part of Exit 16 :wink: :wink:

[cl94]

Looks like NYSDOT really wants to sign I-86 west of I-84. There is one lone JCT I-86 sign uncovered on NY-211 at NY-17. There are also END I-86 signs in place but covered eastbound at the I-84 interchange. I can see why the NY-32 ramp needs to be rebuilt (the overpass is kinda old and falling apart, loop ramp from NY-17N to W is tight), but it really shouldn't hold up an interstate designation. Maybe they can get the NYSTA to pay for it, after all it could technically be part of Exit 16 :wink: :wink:

Regions 8 and 9 have had signs up for years. Under every NY 17 reassurance shield in Region 9 outside of Hale Eddy is an I-86 shield and uncovered direction banners are white on blue (if you haven't noticed, most direction banners are covered). Region 9 is dying to sign it between I-81 and US 220.

[vdeane]

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.