Interstate 290 (New York)

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Interstate 290

Youngmann Memorial Highway
I-290 highlighted in red
Route information
Auxiliary route of I-90
Maintained by NYSDOT
Length9.8 mi[1] (15.8 km)
Existed1958[2]–present
HistoryCompleted mid-1960s[3][4]
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-190 / New York Thruway in Tonawanda
Major intersections
East end I-90 / New York Thruway in Williamsville
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountiesErie
Highway system
← NY 289→ NY 290

Interstate 290 (I-290) is a 9.8-mile-long (15.8 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway in the Buffalo–Niagara Falls metropolitan area. It connects I-190 in Tonawanda with I-90 in Williamsville, via Amherst. It provides a route to Niagara Falls and Canada from the east that bypasses the city of Buffalo. I-290 also connects to I-990 and, through this connection, provides access to the Amherst campus of the University at Buffalo. Its official name is the Youngmann Memorial Highway, but, locally, it is colloquially referred to as "the 290" and "the Youngmann". The highway provides the fastest road link between Toronto (Canada's largest city) and the heavily-populated Northeastern US via I-90.

Route description

I-290 eastbound approaching exit 3B in Amherst

I-290 begins at a semi-directional T interchange with I-190 within view of the Niagara River in an industrial sector of the Buffalo suburb of Tonawanda. The freeway heads east from I-190 into more residential areas of Tonawanda, where it meets New York State Route 384 (NY 384) at a three-quarter cloverleaf interchange. The two missing portions of the cloverleaf, both ramps leading to NY 384 from I-290 eastbound, are replaced by an exit to Elmwood Avenue located slightly west of the NY 384 exit. To the east of NY 384 (and adjacent to the southeasternmost point in the city of Tonawanda), I-290 interchanges with the Twin Cities Memorial Highway (NY 425).

The Youngmann continues east through Tonawanda to the Amherst town line, where it meets US Route 62 (US 62) at a second three-quarter cloverleaf interchange. Unlike the interchange with NY 384, all connections are possible between I-290 and US 62 due to a modified ramp linking I-290 westbound to US 62. Past US 62 in Amherst, I-290 turns to the southeast ahead of a semi-directional T interchange with I-990, a spur to Lockport. Farther east, I-290 meets NY 263 (Millersport Highway) at a cloverleaf interchange and NY 324 and NY 240 at a modified diamond interchange south of the University at Buffalo's north campus in Amherst.

I-290 westbound near I-990

Near Williamsville, I-290 turns southward and intersects NY 5 (Main Street) at a modified cloverleaf interchange. I-290 terminates at a semi-directional T interchange with the New York State Thruway (I-90) a half-mile (0.80 km) to the south on the Amherst–Cheektowaga town line. This interchange is colloquially referenced as "The Blue Water Tower" due to its proximity to a large blue water tower on the Amherst–Cheektowaga town line.

History

What is now I-290 was originally intended to be designated I-190. The route was renumbered I-290 in 1958 to better reflect the future highway's routing as a connector between two Interstate Highways (or a bypass of Buffalo) rather than a spur.[2] Construction on the expressway began c. 1962 when work commenced on the section between NY 263 and the New York State Thruway.[5][6] This section was finished on October 15 the following year,[7] by which time work had begun on the remainder of the freeway.[8] The section between NY 263 and US 62 was opened to traffic on December 1, 1964,[9] while the rest was finished on August 4, 1965.[10] The interchange with what is now I-990 was built in 1983.[11]

The expressway was originally named the Power Line Expressway for the high tension power lines that parallel the expressway. It was renamed on March 20, 1962[12] to serve as a memorial to Elmer G. H. Youngmann, a project engineer who died while the road was being built.[2] The official name of the freeway became the Youngmann Memorial Highway; however, the name Youngmann Expressway has also been frequently used over the years.[13]

Exit list

The entire route is in Erie County.

Locationmi[14]kmExitDestinationsNotes
Town of Tonawanda0.000.00– I-190 – Buffalo, Niagara FallsExit 16 on I-190
1Elmwood Avenue (CR 119)Eastbound exit and entrance
2.584.15 NY 384 (Delaware Avenue)No eastbound exit; signed as exits 1A (south) and 1B (north)
3.655.872
 NY 425 north (Colvin Boulevard)		Southern terminus of NY 425
Tonawanda–Amherst
town line		5.248.433 US 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard)Signed as exits 3A (south) and 3B (north) eastbound
Amherst6.199.964
 I-990 north – University at Buffalo, Lockport		Southern terminus of I-990
7.3111.765 NY 263 (Millersport Highway)Signed as exits 5A (south) and 5B (north)
8.0612.976 NY 240 (Harlem Road) / NY 324 (Sheridan Drive)
9.7515.697 NY 5 (Main Street)Signed as exits 7A (west) and 7B (east)
10.2416.48– I-90 / New York Thruway – Albany, ErieExit 50 on I-90 / Thruway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 2: Auxiliary Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved December 3, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Interstate 290". Kurumi. September 7, 2004. Retrieved July 18, 2010.
  3. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1965map
  4. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1968map
  5. ^ New York and Metropolitan New York (Map) (1961–62 ed.). Cartography by H.M. Gousha Company. Sunoco. 1961.
  6. ^ New York with Sight-Seeing Guide (Map) (1962 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1962.
  7. ^ "Highway Section Is Opened Today". Tonawanda News. 1963-10-15. p. 11. Retrieved 2023-12-17.
  8. ^ New York Happy Motoring Guide (Map) (1963 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1963.
  9. ^ "Millersport to Falls Blvd. Now Open on Youngmann". The Buffalo News. 1964-12-01. p. 33. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  10. ^ "Final Stretch of Youngmann Expressway From Falls Blvd. Will Open Wednesday". The Buffalo News. 1965-08-02. p. 3. Retrieved 2023-12-18.
  11. ^ National Bridge Inventory, a database compiled by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, available at www.nationalbridges.com. Accessed October 30, 2007.
  12. ^ Laws of the State of New York. 1962. p. 919.
  13. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named 1964map
  14. ^ "2008 Traffic Volume Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. June 16, 2009. p. 207. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 27, 2012. Retrieved February 1, 2010.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Interstate 290 (New York).
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