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New York State Route 32

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New York State Route 32 marker

New York State Route 32

Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT
Length176.73 mi[1][2] (284.42 km)
Existed1930[3]–present
Major junctions
Major intersections I-84 / NY 52 in Newburgh
US 44 / NY 55 in Modena
I-587 / NY 28 in Kingston
I-87 / New York Thruway in Saugerties
NY 23 in Cairo
US 20 in Albany
US 4 near Troy
NY 67 in Mechanicville
NY 29 in Schuylerville
US 9 / NY 9L in Glens Falls
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountiesOrange, Ulster, Greene, Albany, Saratoga, Warren, Washington
Highway system
NY 31F NY 32A

New York State Route 32 is a state highway that extends for 176.73 miles (284.42 km) through eastern New York, United States, from NY 17 in Harriman to U.S. Route 4 in Hudson Falls. It serves as a connector between the Hudson Valley and the Capital District cities of Newburgh, Kingston, Albany, Glens Falls and Hudson Falls.

In Newburgh, NY 32 joins with U.S. Route 9W for a reasonable distance. Farther north, NY 32 shares a routing with U.S. Route 4 from Waterford (north of Albany) to Stillwater (southeast of Saratoga Springs, a distance of 14 miles (23 km).

The road passes many interesting features such as the Catskill Mountains and various historical municipalities. The predecessor to the New York State Thruway features great views of the Hudson River along the way. NY 32 is one of the longest state routes in New York and runs alongside Interstate 87 for most of its route.

All of NY 32 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering; however, portions of the route had been signed as a state highway as early as 1924. Only minor realignments have occurred since.

Route description

Harriman to Newburgh

Route 32 begins right where NY 17 leaves off at the Quickway overpass west of the Thruway toll barrier, just north of the Harriman village line. Immediately following it on the right is Woodbury Common Premium Outlets, and opposite it is the Central Valley Elementary School of the Monroe-Woodbury Central School District.[4]

After clearing the mall and its many entrances, 32 descends into downtown Central Valley. Two miles further north is another of the Town of Woodbury's hamlets, Highland Mills. Beyond it the road begins to trend to the west slightly as it is now at the southwestern foot of Schunemunk Mountain, the highest in the county.

Route 32 in the Woodbury Creek valley.

Shortly after Highland Mills, the Metro-North Port Jervis Line crosses over on a high trestle. After crossing over Woodbury Creek and under the Thruway, NY 32 now runs along the eastern side of the narrow valley between Schunemunk and the Hudson Highlands.[4] This section of highway is lightly trafficked through mostly wooded terrain as it leaves Woodbury for Cornwall. Just north of Mountainville and the north end of Schunemunk, the road crosses Moodna Creek immediately downriver from the Woodbury Creek confluence. The light at Orrs Mills Road, and the intersection with Angola Road a quarter-mile to the south, were once the beginning and end of a brief concurrency with now-decommissioned NY 307. Today they are part of county roads, with Orrs Mills leading up to Storm King Art Center.[4]

Vails Gate

The road begins to climb gently out of the creek valley and show more development. 1.6 miles (2.6 km) north of Angola Road, it crosses the New Windsor town line and reaches the complicated five-way intersection at the center of Vails Gate, where NY 94 intersects and NY 300 begins. The next two miles of road widen to include a middle turn lane as 32 becomes New Windsor's main commercial strip. This section ends at Temple Hill Avenue, with Snake Hill looming to the west, although the road remains heavily commercial as it enters the city of Newburgh as the wide Lake Street.[4]

A mile from the city limit, it reaches Broadway, Newburgh's main street, also NY 17K. It turns east along Broadway and the brief, unsigned concurrency, the first currently along 32, ends two blocks later where 17K terminates at US 9W (Robinson Avenue), an intersection marked by the historic Broadway School. Route 32, however, turns west to start the first of its several concurrencies with Route 9W.

Downing Park in the city of Newburgh.

The two highways remain joined for the next 1.2 miles (1.9 km) as they pass the Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux-designed Downing Park and reach the city limit where Interstate 84 and NY 52 cross over on their way to the Newburgh-Beacon Bridge. Immediately following that junction, the concurrency ends as 32 leaves to the northwest.[4]

Newburgh to New Paltz

This is the commercial strip north of the city, featuring the Mid-Valley Mall and another large shopping plaza built around a supermarket anchor. This development ends after a mile, when 32 passes the Town of Newburgh's Cronomer Hill Park alongside the south, where spectacular views are available from the summit observation tower a short drive up.[4]

2 miles (3.2 km) more brings 32 to the center of the hamlet of Cronomer Valley and an unusual junction with NY 300. Seemingly a conventional four-way intersection regulated by a traffic light, both highways turn. Thus it is necessary to turn right to stay on 32 north, while continuing through puts traffic on Route 300.[4]

From this intersection, 32 passes Chadwick Lake, the town's reservoir and then continues straight north through much less developed, mostly wooded countryside in the northern reaches of the town. 4 miles (6.4 km) of this brings it to the Ulster County line at almost the point where the woods abate.[4]

Barely a mile into Plattekill, the highway crosses the Thruway once again. It curves northwards shortly thereafter, retaining a slightly westward trend through mostly open fields offering glimpses of the Shawangunk Ridge. 4.5 miles (7.2 km) from the Thruway, NY 32 intersects US 44 and NY 55 in the center of another Town of Plattekill hamlet, Modena.[4] A short distance beyond, the highway crosses into Gardiner, taking a wide bend around Locust Lawn, the Federal style-home of early 19th-century politician Josiah Hasbrouck.[5]

Views of the Shawangunks and Catskills as the highway nears New Paltz.

North of Modena, the road becomes just a bit more wooded. There is, however, one long stretch on high ground with sweeping views of the Shawangunks around the point where 32 crosses into the Town of New Paltz. But it gets once again wooded and curving before 32 enters the village right next to the campus of SUNY New Paltz. Two blocks north of campus, at New Paltz Middle School, it turns west at a light to join NY 299 as the village's Main Street.[4]

Downtown New Paltz

New Paltz to Kingston

While 32 officially remains concurrent with 299 all the way to the traffic light at the northern terminus of NY 208, a sign at the Elting Memorial Library, just before the center of downtown, directs northbound traffic on the highway down North Front Street. This shortcut allows that traffic to skip an often busy intersection and head out of the village on North Chestnut Street.[4] Once past the village, Ulster Board of Cooperative Educational Services comes up on the left and the town hall along the right. Route 32 then returns to mostly rural landscapes, with the lowlands of the upper Wallkill River valley and the upper Shawangunks visible to the west.[4]

Bridge over Rondout Creek at Rosendale. Route 213 concurrency ends on opposite side.

Over the next 5 miles (8.0 km), the road trends easterly until NY 213 joins it from the east right before the bridge over the Wallkill. The Thruway's own bridge is visible a short distance to the east. Now concurrent, 32 and 213 bend away from the Thruway and pass through the hamlet of Tillson and then descend to cross Rondout Creek at the former village of Rosendale. Just after the crossing, at the Stewart's, 213 leaves to the west along the creek, ending a 2.5 miles (4.0 km) concurrency.[4]

From Rosendale, 32 climbs up out of the Rondout valley and veers east into the hidden hamlet of Maple Hill, where it crosses over the Thruway once again. It resumes a northerly course through Bloomington, and several miles further on crosses the Kingston city line.[4]

Kingston and Saugerties

On its route through Kingston, 32 frequently changes streets and directions. At first, it comes into town as just Boulevard, meandering its way to just past Washington Avenue, where it splits onto the more easterly Greenkill Avenue for several blocks. NY 213 returns, coming in from the south as Wilbur Avenue. The joined routes then turn onto Clinton Avenue for two blocks, then east onto Henry Street. This carries them about a .5 miles (0.80 km) to Broadway, where 32 turns north and 213 ends.[4]

Another half-mile brings Broadway to the wide junction where Interstate 587 and NY 28 both terminate. Route 32 follows Albany Avenue northeast to Flatbush Avenue, where it turns to assume an eastward course. This finally bends slightly north to East Chester Street near the city limit where US 9W again comes in from the south to begin a brief wrong-way concurrency, where 32 north is 9W south. It ends, unsigned, after 1,500 feet (460 m) with 9W's turn onto Frank Koenig Boulevard.[4]

Continuing as Flatbush Road into the Town of Ulster, 32 is for the first time along its route east of 9W and closer to the river. It thus has the interchange with NY 199 immediately east of the Kingston-Rhinecliff Bridge, after which it passes Kingston-Ulster Airport. It remains on a northerly heading until a mile south of Saugerties, where it veers west and merges with 9W again.[4]

The two routes cross Esopus Creek and enter the village, where Partition Street gives way to Main Street. At that T intersection, 9W turns to continue north, while 32 picks up the new NY 212 and heads west out of town.[4]

The Catskills to Albany

After one block of Main Street, 32 and 212 turn onto Market Street, then east onto Ulster Avenue after another block. As it crosses the railroad tracks and leaves the village, the road widens and becomes a commercial highway, heralding the imminent Thruway exit. This, the fourth time 32 has crossed the Thruway, is the first time it does so at an actual exit. Beyond the overpass, the concurrency ends when 32 turns and heads north once again. A tight nearby onramp provides access to the southbound Thruway.[4]

Visible ahead here are the peaks of Overlook and Plattekill mountains, the southern end of the Catskill Escarpment. Route 32 does not enter the Catskills but will for the next stretch be a key access route to them.[4]

The highway begins to put some distance between itself and the Thruway.[4] At the junction with Malden Turnpike (Ulster County 34), it turns westward, apparently toward the Escarpment, and starts climbing through some rock cuts. When Blue Mountain Road (Ulster County 35) comes in from the south, 32 resumes heading north, parallel to the ridge. A mile from that junction, its only suffixed route, NY 32A, splits off to the west to provide direct access via NY 23A and Kaaterskill Clove to Tannersville and Hunter.[4]

After crossing into Greene County, the road intersects 23A at an undeveloped junction. 32 remains in its straight course through the lowlands below the Escarpment, passing around the north side of Cairo Roundtop, before it joins with NY 23 at Cairo. After 1.5 miles (2.4 km), NY 32 leaves the divided highway to once again strike north as a two-lane route. It trends west, as far as it has on its entire journey, until beginning to bend back to the east just south of Freehold.[4]

The landscape gets hillier at another hamlet, Greenville, where it crosses NY 81. A mile further on, 32 enters Albany County. After sharing two miles of road with NY 143, crossing the northern end of Alcove Reservoir and descending the southern end of the Helderberg Escarpment, the road veers eastward toward Albany.[4]

To get there, it crosses the northern end of the busy Selkirk rail yard, intersects NY 335 on the southern fringe of Delmar and crosses under the Thruway for the last time before reaching its final concurrency with US 9W at Kenwood, then entering Albany as it crosses under I-787.[4]

Albany to Hudson Falls

Within Albany, NY 32 is routed on Pearl Street, intersecting US 9 and 20 near the approach to the Dunn Memorial Bridge. Near the city limits, NY 32 passes under Interstate 90. Upon crossing into neighboring Menands, NY 32 bears onto Wolfert Avenue to access Broadway. Broadway, a business thoroughfare originating in downtown Albany, is designated New York State Route 910C, an unsigned reference route, for 0.06 miles (0.10 km) south of Wolfert Avenue to the Albany city line.[6] NY 32 occupies Broadway north of Wolfert Avenue, paralleling I-787 into Watervliet.[4]

At 13th Street, NY 32 leaves Broadway and follows 13th two blocks west to an intersection with 2nd Avenue. Here, NY 155 begins and occupies 13th to the west of 2nd while NY 32 turns north onto 2nd. NY 32 continues in the vicinity of I-787 and its continuation, NY 787, through Watervliet and Green Island to Cohoes, where NY 787 ends at NY 32 near the convergence of the Mohawk and Hudson Rivers. Past NY 787, NY 32 crosses both the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal prior to intersecting U.S. Route 4 in Waterford. The two routes merge, forming an overlap northward along the path of the Hudson River.[4]

In Mechanicville, US 4 and NY 32 briefly overlap NY 67. Farther north, the two routes split north of Stillwater at the southern edge of the Saratoga National Historical Park. While US 4 straddles the park to the east, NY 32 follows the southern and western extents of the park before rejoining US 4 south of Schuylerville. In Schuylerville, the two routes are concurrent with NY 29 for a short distance before exiting the village. To the north of the village in Northumberland, NY 32 separates from US 4 and heads northwest to Gansevoort, where it meets NY 50. NY 32 continues north on the right-of-way of NY 50 to South Glens Falls, where U.S. Route 9 joins NY 32 northward across the Hudson River into Glens Falls.[4]

Shortly after entering the city, NY 32 turns onto Warren Street, splitting from US 9 and following the path of the Hudson east toward Hudson Falls. At Highland Avenue, NY 32 turns east, following Highland past Quaker Road (NY 254) to Dix Avenue, where it merges east onto Dix. NY 32 remains on Dix into Hudson Falls, intersecting US 4 one last time north of the village before continuing through the intersection onto Burgoyne Avenue. The route remains on Burgoyne around the northeastern portion of Hudson Falls to NY 196, where NY 32 terminates.[4] The highway continues as Washington County Route 37 south to US 4 in Hudson Falls.

History

In 1924, the segment of modern NY 32 between Albany and Mechanicville was designated as part of NY 6. From Mechanicville to Hudson Falls, the current routing of NY 32 became part of NY 30.[7] By 1926, the portion of what is now NY 32 from Harriman to Newburgh was designated New York State Route 58.[8] From Newburgh to Albany, the current alignment of NY 32 was unnumbered.[9] When U.S. Routes were first signed in New York in 1927, the portion of NY 6 from Albany to Waterford was designated as the northernmost portion of U.S. Route 9W. In Waterford, US 9W merged with U.S. Route 9E and continued north as U.S. Route 9 to Mechanicville, where US 9 turned west onto modern NY 67.[10]

In the 1930 renumbering, US 9W was truncated to Albany while US 9 was rerouted to follow a new alignment between Albany and Round Lake. The former routing of both routes along the Hudson River between Albany and Mechanicville, as well as the entirety of NY 58 and the portion of NY 30 from Schuylerville to Hudson Falls, was integrated into the new NY 32, which followed its current alignment between Harriman and the Stillwater community of Bemis Heights and from Schuylerville to Hudson Falls.[11] Between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville, the original routing of NY 32 is unclear. In some contemporary maps, such as the one accompanying a 1930 New York Times article detailing the 1930 renumbering of state routes in New York, the former routing of NY 30 between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville is shown as New York State Route 32A[3][12] with NY 32 following the modern routing of US 4 along the Hudson River.[12] Others, however, place NY 32 on its current alignment and show NY 32A on the riverside roadway. Regardless of NY 32's alignment, U.S. Route 4, which previously ended in Glens Falls, was rerouted south of Hudson Falls to end in East Greenbush.[11] From Northumberland to Waterford, the route used what is now NY 32.[12]

By 1947, NY 32A was removed from contemporary maps of the area while the routing of NY 32 between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville was shown as being identical to that of US 4; namely, via Quaker Springs and Victory Mills.[13][14] US 4 was later rerouted onto the riverside roadway between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville between 1956 and 1962.[15][16]

Within Queensbury and Hudson Falls, NY 32 was originally routed on Boulevard Street and Feeder Avenue.[17] On April 1, 1980, ownership and maintenance of Boulevard Street between Highland Avenue and the Washington County line was transferred from New York State to Warren County in exchange for control over Highland and Dix Avenues between Warren Avenue and the Washington County line. The portion of Boulevard Street in Hudson Falls, as well as the segment of Feeder Street south of Boulevard, was given to Washington County on April 1 of the following year in return for ownership and maintenance over all of Dix and Burgoyne Avenues north of NY 196.[18] NY 32 was rerouted to follow Highland, Dix, and Burgoyne Avenues shortly afterward.[19]

Suffixed routes

Originally, NY 32 had two suffixed routes, both of which were absorbed by other routes. The NY 32A designation has since been revived for a short connector in the Hudson Valley.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1][2]kmDestinationsNotes
OrangeHarriman0.000.00 NY 17To I-87/Thruway
Orrs Mill9.7215.64 CR 107Former routing of NY 307
Vails Gate11.4818.48 NY 94
NY 300
Southern terminus of NY 300
City of Newburgh15.0824.27 NY 17K westWestern terminus of overlap
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
15.3124.64 US 9W south
NY 17K
Eastern terminus of NY 17K/32 overlap; southern terminus of US 9W
Eastern terminus of NY 17K
16.6126.73 I-84 east/NY 52 eastExit 10 (I-84/NY 52 EB)
16.6726.83 US 9W northNorthern terminus of overlap
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
16.8927.18 I-84 west/NY 52 westExit 10 (I-84/NY 52 WB)
Cronomer Valley19.8731.98 NY 300
UlsterModena29.0746.78 US 44/NY 55
Village of New Paltz34.9556.25 NY 299 eastSouthern terminus of overlap; to I-87/Thruway
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
35.4657.07 NY 208
NY 299 west
Northern terminus of NY 32/299 overlap; northern terminus of NY 208
Rosendale40.2864.82 NY 213 eastSouthern terminus of overlap
42.8368.93 NY 213 westNorthern terminus of overlap
City of Kingston49.6979.97 NY 213 westSouthern terminus of overlap
50.0180.48 NY 213Northern terminus of overlap; northern terminus of NY 213
50.3481.01 I-587/NY 28Southern terminus of I-587; southern terminus of NY 28
51.8783.48 US 9W northSouthern terminus of overlap
52.1583.93 US 9W southNorthern terminus of overlap
Ulster54.5487.77 NY 199
Town of Saugerties60.1496.79 US 9W southSouthern terminus of overlap
Village of Saugerties62.36100.36 US 9W north
NY 212
Northern terminus of US 9W/NY 32 overlap; eastern terminus of NY 32/212 overlap
Eastern terminus of NY 212
Town of Saugerties63.62102.39 I-87/ThruwayExit 20 (I-87/Thruway)
63.70102.52 NY 212 westWestern terminus of overlap
Saxton69.74112.24 NY 32AEastern terminus of NY 32A
GreeneTown of Cairo72.42116.55 NY 23A
80.02128.78 NY 23 eastSouthern terminus of overlap
81.14130.58 NY 23 westNorthern terminus of overlap
Town of Greenville89.87144.63 NY 81
AlbanyWesterlo96.05154.58 NY 143 westSouthern terminus of overlap
98.36158.30 NY 143 eastNorthern terminus of overlap
Bethlehem110.29177.49 NY 335
112.33180.78 US 9W southWestern terminus of overlap
112.72181.41 US 9W northEastern terminus of overlap; to I-87/Thruway
113.36182.44 NY 144Northern terminus of NY 144
Albany114.89184.90 I-787Exit 2 (I-787)
115.54185.94 US 20 eastSouthern terminus of overlap
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
115.62186.07 US 20 westNorthern terminus of overlap; to Dunn Memorial Bridge
115.84186.43 NY 5Not a signed intersection; left turns prohibited
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
116.18186.97 US 9
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
Menands118.69191.01 I-787Exit 6 (I-787)
119.74192.70 NY 378Grade separated interchange, partial cloverleaf
Watervliet121.85196.10 NY 155Eastern terminus of NY 155
122.32196.85 NY 2To Congress Street Bridge
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
Cohoes125.37201.76 NY 470To 112th Street Bridge
Module:Jctint/USA warning: Unused argument(s): street
NY 787Northern terminus of NY 787
SaratogaVillage of Waterford127.20204.71 US 4 southSouthern terminus of overlap
Halfmoon134.48216.42 NY 146Eastern terminus of NY 146
Mechanicville136.01218.89 NY 67 westSouthern terminus of overlap
136.11219.05 NY 67 eastNorthern terminus of overlap
Town of Stillwater141.32227.43 US 4 northNorthern terminus of overlap
143.61231.12 NY 423Eastern terminus of NY 423
Schuylerville153.65247.28 US 4 southSouthern terminus of overlap
CR 338Former eastern terminus of NY 338
153.84247.58 NY 29 eastSouthern terminus of overlap
154.13248.05 NY 29 westNorthern terminus of overlap
Northumberland155.92250.93 US 4 northNorthern terminus of overlap
Gansevoort163.39262.95 NY 50Northern terminus of NY 50
Moreau167.68269.85 NY 197
South Glens Falls170.26274.01 US 9 southSouthern terminus of overlap
WarrenGlens Falls171.76276.42 US 9 northSouthern terminus of overlap
Queensbury173.65279.46 NY 254
WashingtonHudson Falls175.62282.63 US 4
176.73284.42 NY 196
CR 37
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

  1. ^ a b "Traffic Data Report - NY 23 to NY 32" (PDF). NYSDOT. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-10-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  2. ^ a b "Traffic Data Report - NY 32 to NY 55" (PDF). NYSDOT. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-10-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  3. ^ a b c d Leon A. Dickinson (1930-01-12). "New Signs for State Highways". New York Times. p. 136. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Google Maps (2007). "RT-32, New York, United States". Google. Retrieved 2007-08-29. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help); Check date values in: |year= (help)
  5. ^
  6. ^ "Traffic Data Report - NY 908F to NY 953B" (PDF). NYSDOT. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2007-08-22. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "New York's Main Highways Designated by Numbers". New York Times. 1924-12-21. p. XX9. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  8. ^ Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas (northern New Jersey) (Map). Rand McNally. 1926. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  9. ^ Rand McNally Auto Road Atlas (eastern New York) (Map). Rand McNally. 1926. Retrieved 2007-10-18.
  10. ^ Automobile Blue Book, (Automobile Blue Books Inc., Chicago, 1927), Vol. 1
  11. ^ a b Automobile Legal Association (ALA) Automobile Green Book, 1930/31 and 1931/32 editions, (Scarborough Motor Guide Co., Boston, 1930 and 1931). The 1930/31 edition shows New York state routes prior to the 1930 renumbering
  12. ^ a b c Road Map & Historical Guide - New York (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Sun Oil Company. 1935.
  13. ^ Official Highway Map of New York State (Map) (1947-48 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. State of New York Department of Public Works.
  14. ^ Glens Falls, United States (Map). 1 : 250,000. Eastern United States 1 : 250,000. Army Map Service. 1948. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  15. ^ Glens Falls, N.Y.; VT., N.H. (Map). 1 : 250,000. Eastern United States 1 : 250,000. United States Geological Survey. 1956. Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  16. ^ New York with Sight-Seeing Guide (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1962.
  17. ^ Hudson Falls, NY Quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000. 7.5 Minute Series (Topographic). United States Geological Survey. 1966.
  18. ^ New York State Legislature. "Highway Law, Article 12, Section 341". Retrieved 2008-02-18.
  19. ^ New York (Map). Rand McNally. 1985. ISBN 0-528-91040-X.
  20. ^ "2006 Traffic Data Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. 2007-07-16. pp. p. 168. Retrieved 2008-02-10. {{cite web}}: |pages= has extra text (help); Check date values in: |date= (help)

External links

Template:Hudson River corridor