Interstate 678 South - Whitestone Expwy / Bronx Whitestone Bridge

Interstate 678 southbound reassurance marker posted between NY 25A (Northern Boulevard) and the Roosevelt Avenue / #7 Metro line over crossing.

06/26/05

A closer look at the Roosevelt Avenue and #7 Metro line bridge over Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) southbound. The #7 line ends nearby at the Flushing-Main Street station. Roosevelt Avenue travels east-west between Jackson Heights, Corona, and Flushing.

06/26/05

Exit 12A departs the Van Wyck Expressway adjacent to College Point Boulevard at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. College Point Boulevard parallels Interstate 678 southward from Flushing into the park. The surface road provides the link to Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) eastbound as their is no direct ramp to the L.I.E.

06/26/05

Nearing the departure of Exit 12A onto College Point Boulevard from Interstate 678 south. Exit 12B follows as a direct ramp onto Interstate 495 west to Manhattan.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) southbound at the Exit 12A ramp departure onto College Point Boulevard. College Point Boulevard intersects Horace Harding Expressway, the frontage street system for Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway), within one half mile. The eastbound frontage street provides access onto the L.I.E. eastbound for Fresh Meadows, Oakland Gardens, and Riverhead, Long Island.

06/26/05

Continuing south toward the Exit 12B off-ramp onto Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) westbound for Rego Park, Sunnyside, and Midtown Manhattan.
These overheads were replaced by 2011.

06/26/05

A complex directional interchange ties Interstate 678 into the Interstate 495 collector distributor system at Exit 12B. Interstate 495 westbound meets Grand Central Parkway at a cloverleaf interchange nearby. Otherwise the freeway continues west 4.8 miles to Interstate 278 (BQE) and 6.8 miles to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) ascends over Interstate 495 and the Exit 12 ramps along the eastern edge of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Interstate 495 travels 66.38 miles between the Queens Midtown Tunnel and Riverhead on eastern Long Island.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 descends toward the Exit 11 off-ramp to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park at Meadow Lake, 69th Road west, Jewel Avenue west, and Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue east. College Point Boulevard transitions into a frontage street system for the Van Wyck Expressway from Interstate 495 southward. Exit 11 utilizes the adjacent roadway for its connections to the park road system.

08/29/05

College Point Boulevard comes into view at the Interstate 678 viaduct end. A small guide sign touts the connections to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park and Meadow Lake.

06/26/05

08/29/05

Exit 11 departs Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) southbound. 69th Road and Jewel Avenue travel west toward NY 25 (Queens Boulevard) for Rego Park and Forest Hills. Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue heads east toward Queens College and Fresh Meadows.

06/26/05

The adjacent frontage road partitions into the ramp for Flushing Meadows-Corona Park at Meadow Lake and a collector distributor system for 69th Road, Jewel Avenue, Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue, and return access to Interstate 678 south.

06/26/05

The Exit 11 c/d roadway splits with ramps to 69th Road & Jewel Avenue west and Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue east from the return onto Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) southbound. 69th Road & Jewel Avenue form a one way street couplet between the Grand Central Parkway interchange and NY 25 (Queens Boulevard). Jewel Avenue becomes Harry Van Arsdale, Jr. Avenue east of Interstate 678 en route to Park Drive, Main Street, and 164th Street.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) continues south toward the junction with Jackie Robinson Parkway west and Union Turnpike west (Exit 8). At this point Grand Central Parkway crosses paths with the Van Wyck Expressway en route to Kew Garden Hills, Utopia, and Queens Village. Jackie Robinson Parkway stems west from the GCP to Forest Park, Woodhaven, and East New York. Union Turnpike comprises a frontage street system for the Jackie Robinson Parkway through Kew Gardens.

06/26/05

Interests for NY 25 (Queens Boulevard) west should use Union Turnpike west for its ramp onto Queens Boulevard north. NY 25 travels through Kew Gardens between Forest Hills and Jamaica.

06/26/05

Exit 8 departs onto the Union Turnpike westbound ahead of its crossing of NY 25 (Queens Boulevard). Union Turnpike continues west to Metropolitan Avenue, Woodhaven Boulevard, and Myrtle Avenue within the vicinity of Forest Park.

06/26/05

The Van Wyck Expressway southbound enters the interchange complex with Grand Central Parkway, Jackie Robinson Parkway, and Union Turnpike at Exits 7 & 8. Departing Interstate 678 southbound first is the Union Turnpike westbound ramp for connections to NY 25 (Queens Boulevard). Exit 7 constitutes a direct ramp onto Jackie Robinson Parkway (formerly Interborough Parkway) westbound next.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 ascends over Grand Central and Jackie Robinson Parkways at Kew Gardens. Exit 7 leaves the freeway for Jackie Robinson Parkway westbound to Broadway Junction, East New York and Brownsville. The limited-access highway ends at the junction of Pennsylvania, Jamaica, Bushwick, and New York Avenues, five miles to the west.

08/29/05

Southbound reassurance marker posted ahead of the ramp merge with the Grand Central Parkway. Daily traffic counts on Interstate 678 increase by 50,000 with the addition of traffic from the parkway system.

08/29/05

Leaving the freeway next is Exit 6 onto an adjacent frontage street ahead of its intersections with Hillside and Jamaica Avenues. NY 25 crosses paths with Interstate 678 along Queens Boulevard between Union Turnpike and Hillside Avenue. The state route turns east onto Hillside Avenue toward Jamaica and Hollis.

08/29/05

Interstate 678 southbound converges with traffic from the Grand Central Parkway southbound on-ramp at the Hoover Avenue overpass. A pull-through panel indicates that just three lanes of travel continue south to John F. Kennedy International Airport.
This stretch was under reconstruction in 2011.

06/26/05

The northbound off-ramp to NY 25 (Queens Boulevard) west passes over Interstate 678 south one quarter mile ahead of the Exit 6 ramp departure for Hillside and Jamaica Avenue. The Exit 6 southbound ramp forms a collector distributor roadway with the Main Street southbound on-ramp. From the c/d roadway are ramps back onto Interstate 678 south and onto the adjacent frontage street ahead of its intersections with Hillside and Jamaica Avenues.

06/26/05

Passing underneath NY 25 (Queens Boulevard) on Interstate 678 southbound ahead of Exit 6. The Van Wyck Expressway frontage street system resumes between Queens Boulevard and Conduit Avenue (NY 27).

06/26/05

Southbound at the ramp departure of Exit 6 for Hillside and Jamaica Avenues. Hillside and Jamaica Avenues parallel one another in an east-west fashion between Richmond Hill, Jamaica, and Hillside. Metropolitan Avenue ties into Jamaica Avenue near its crossing of Interstate 678.

08/29/05

The Exit 6 c/d roadway partitions into roadways for the Van Wyck Expressway south to Kennedy Airport and the Van Wyck Expressway southbound frontage street for Hillside and Jamaica Avenues.

06/26/05

Leaving the freeway next is the Exit 5 slip ramp onto the adjacent frontage street ahead of Atlantic Avenue. Atlantic Avenue comprises a surface arterial west from Jamaica and 94th Avenue to Morris Park, Woodhaven, Broadway Junction, and Brooklyn Heights.

08/29/05

The Long Island Railroad, the F Line of the New York Metro Subway system, and Atlantic Avenue pass over the Van Wyck Expressway at the Exit 5 diamond interchange. Advertisements for JFK International Airport appear along Interstate 678 southbound through Queens.

08/29/05

An elevated rail line follows the center line of Interstate 678 between 94th Avenue and JFK International Airport in south Queens. Known as Airtrain, the line links the airport with the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subways, and local buses. The automated Light Rail Transit System was built between 1998 and 2003. Trains run along the line every two minutes between the airport terminals and four minutes to and from Jamaica or Howard Beach. Connections to the LIRR provide a 45-minute commute time to midtown Manhattan.¹

08/29/05

Interstate 678 southbound next encounters Liberty Avenue (Exit 4) between Morris Park and Cedar Manor. Liberty Avenue travels east-west between South Richmond Hill and Hollis in south Queens.

08/29/05

Southbound at the Exit 4 ramp departure onto the adjacent frontage street for Liberty Avenue. 101st Avenue passes over the Van Wyck Expressway southbound three quarters of a mile north of Exit 3 (Linden Boulevard).

08/29/05

Exits 3 (Linden Boulevard), Exit 2 (Rockaway Boulevard) and 1W (Belt Parkway) connect I-678 south with Aqueduct Race Track. The race track is located between Conduit Avenue and Rockaway Boulevards at South Ozone Park to the west.

08/29/05

One quarter mile north of the Exit 3 diamond interchange with Linden Boulevard. Linden Boulevard serves the Cedar Manor, Locust Manor, and South Ozone Park neighborhoods. An adjacent guide sign advises motorists of the Cargo areas of JFK International Airport.

08/29/05

Southbound at the 109th Avenue over crossing on Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) southbound. Linden Boulevard intersects Sutphin Boulevard 0.75 miles to the east and Lefferts Boulevard 0.8 miles to the west.

08/29/05

Interstate 678 reassurance marker posted at the Linden Boulevard over crossing.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 nears the Belt Parkway, Conduit Avenue (NY 27) and Nassau Expressway (Interstate 878) interchange at Exit 2 for Rockaway Boulevard. Rockaway Boulevard travels west from NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) to Ozone Park and Woodhaven in southwest Queens.

06/26/05

Exit 2 to Rockaway Boulevard departs Interstate 678 southbound at the Foch Boulevard overpass. Rockaway Boulevard heads east to Locust Manor and west to South Ozone Park. Signs to the left advise motorists of the connections to NY 27 (Conduit Avenue) at Exits 1E/W. Conduit Avenue constitutes the frontage road system of the Belt Parkway in south Queens.

08/29/05

Exit 1W departs Interstate 678 southbound in the form of a collector distributor roadway between Rockaway Boulevard and Belt Parkway. The off-ramp serves NY 27 (Conduit Avenue) westbound and its on-ramp to Belt Parkway west. The roadway also brings motorists onto Interstate 678 southbound from Rockaway Boulevard.

06/26/05

Use Belt Parkway westbound for Howard Beach and Starrett City, Manhattan Beach, Coney Island, and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn. The Belt Parkway system encircles Brooklyn and Queens between Interstates 278 (Gowanus Expressway) and 678 (Whitestone Expressway). The roadway includes low overpasses and therefore commercial truck traffic is prohibited. The Verrazano Bridge lies 16.5 miles west along the Belt Parkway from Exit 1W.

08/29/05

The Exit 2 on-ramp joins the Exit 1W c/d roadway ahead of the 133rd Avenue over crossing. Traffic partitions into ramps for NY 27 and the Belt Parkway west for Brooklyn and return access onto Interstate 678 south ahead of Exit 1E (Belt Parkway east and Interstate 878).

06/26/05

Interstate 678 enters the directional cloverleaf interchange with Belt Parkway, NY 878 (Nassau Expressway), and NY 27 (Conduit Avenue). Exit 1E serves the eastbound direction of Belt Parkway and Conduit Avenue for Locust Manor, Laurelton, Rosedale, and points east of New York City. The ramp also serves NY 878 (unsigned Interstate 878) eastbound to Rockaway Boulevard and JFK Expressway south into the airport.

06/26/05

The Airtrain viaduct leaves the Van Wyck Expressway right of way for the terminal of John F. Kennedy International Airport amid the Interstate 678 interchange with the Belt Parkway, NY 27 (Conduit Avenue), and NY 878 (Nassau Expressway).

08/29/05

Nassau Expressway consists of an eastbound-only roadway from the Belt Parkway interchange with Conduit Avenue to I-678. Once slated to be a part of Interstate 78, only one half of the freeway was built before the Interstate was cancelled. Unsigned I-878, the shortest Interstate within the entire system, overlays the NY 878 portion from the Van Wyck Expressway east to Hangar Road. This portion of the Nassau Expressway includes both roadways.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 veers southwest into John F. Kennedy International Airport at the Exits 1/1E ramp departure. All traffic interests to NY 27 (Conduit Avenue), Belt Parkway, and NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) eastbound depart the Van Wyck Expressway before it enters the airport grounds. NY 27 parallels the Belt Parkway closely to Laurelton before departing Queens via POW/MIA Memorial Highway (Sunrise Highway) to Valley Stream. Belt Parkway meets Southern State Parkway at Springfield Gardens in five miles.

08/29/05

Following the Exits 1/1E off-ramp of Interstate 678 southbound ahead of its partition into roadways for NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) east and Belt Parkway & NY 27 (Conduit Avenue) east. NY 27, Southern State Parkway, Northern Parkway and Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) constitute major routes to Long Island from the Belt Parkway system of New York.

06/26/05

NY 878 provides an alternate route to JFK International Airport via its interchange with JFK Expressway. JFK Expressway leads south from Belt Parkway into the airport terminal. NY 878 otherwise transitions into Rockaway Boulevard east of the freeway end en route to Cedarhurst.

06/26/05

Exits 1 to NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) eastbound and 1E to Belt Parkway & NY 27 (Conduit Avenue) eastbound split.

06/26/05

Interstate 678 leaves the Nassau Expressway and Belt Parkway interchange and enters the grounds of John F. Kennedy International Airport. Departing the freeway first is the Federal Circle off-ramp to Bergen Road and 134th Street. This interchange serves the cargo areas of the airport.

08/29/05

A decorative sign welcomes motorists to JFK International Airport. The freeway maintains six overall lanes to the terminal.

08/29/05

The second JFK Airport off-ramp constitutes a slip ramp onto the adjacent Service Road at 130th Place. Use this ramp for the Port Authority Administration and an assortment of other airport related services.

08/29/05

A myriad of signs advise motorists of the numbered terminals and their associated air carriers on Interstate 678 southbound ahead of the terminal.

08/29/05

The last exit of Interstate 678 southbound ahead of the terminal serves the North and South Service Roads at the Airport Police Station. All vehicles over 12'8" must depart the freeway here.

08/29/05

This suite of photographs displays the orientation and terminal color scheme of the JFK International Airport off-ramps beyond the Van Wyck Expressway transition onto the airport loop. The facility entails 4,930 acres, 880 of which reside within the Central Terminal Area, and over 30 miles of runway.

08/29/05

Originally constructed for $150 million, work began on the facility in April of 1942. The City of New York bought the Idlewild Golf Course at that time and planned a 1,000 acre facility. Flights commenced on July 1, 1948 at New York International Airport and re-dedication of the facility followed the death of President John F. Kennedy on December 24, 1963. The airport employs over 35,000.¹

08/29/05

The Airport Loop turns northward at Terminal 6; at that point a pair of traffic signals interrupt the otherwise non-stop flow. The roadway system of the Central Terminal Area was reconstructed to divide the network into the five terminal areas. Additionally connections to JFK Expressway were enhanced during this project to improve access to the terminal from the Belt Parkway and Nassau Expressway.¹

08/29/05