Interstate 687
Encyclopedia
Interstate 687 was a proposed auxiliary Interstate Highway in the Capital District
region of New York
in the United States
. The highway would have connected I-90
in Albany
to I-87
near Albany International Airport
in Colonie
. I-687 faced opposition from those living in the path of the highway, and ultimately all that was built of the highway was its interchange with I-90 in Albany. The project was cancelled in 1973, and I-687 was removed from the Interstate Highway System
four years later.
near the northern city line of Albany
. The Interstate Highway, named the Northside–Northway Connection, would have proceeded generally northwestward through the town of Colonie
, passing through a series of residential neighborhoods located to the west of Loudonville
and to the northeast of Roessleville
. Present-day Sand Creek Road approximates the proposed route. It would have had interchanges with Everett Road, Osborne Road, the proposed northward extension of the Crosstown Arterial (New York State Route 85 or NY 85), and Wolf Road before ending at exit 3 of the Adirondack Northway (I-87
) south of Albany International Airport
. The highway would have been 4.6 miles (7.4 km) long.
's portion of the Interstate Highway System
were drawn up in the late 1950s. One of the highways proposed at this time was I-687, also known as the "Northway Connection". When the Adirondack Northway (I-87
) was completed through Colonie
in 1960, a gap was left in the Northway's exit numbering system for an interchange with I-687. The exits with NY 5
(Central Avenue) and Albany Shaker Road were designated as exits 2 and 4, respectively, leaving exit 3 for I-687. No such gap was left on the toll-free section of I-90
, where the I-687 exit was numbered exit 5A.
The construction of I-687 would have forced hundreds of households from their homes, which are located off of Albany Shaker Road. By way of comparison, today's Crossing Park in Colonie would have been directly in the path of the highway. As such, the project faced opposition from residents of the town of Colonie. The construction of the road was started despite the controversy surrounding it, and the interchange with I-90 was completed ca. 1972. Construction was halted soon afterward, however, as state and federal funds were diverted away from the project. I-687 and the proposed northward extension of the Crosstown Arterial (NY 85
) were both cancelled by the state of New York in late September 1973, at which time the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT) requested that I-687 be removed from the Interstate Highway System. The request was granted in 1977.
I-90 exit 5A, the only part of the project that was ever constructed, was left as an interchange to nowhere for roughly a decade. In the early 1980s, the large, freeway-standard trumpet interchange was linked up with Corporate Woods Boulevard, a local, two-lane street leading to an office park located just north of I-90 on Albany Shaker Road. Meanwhile, there is still no exit 3 on I-87 to this day. The New York State Department of Transportation
is now in the planning stages of constructing an exit 3 that would help relieve traffic congestion at exit 4. Exit 3 will be routed either to Albany International Airport or exit 4 will be completely relocated to meet with the airport. If exit 4 is relocated, exit 3 will become an access exit to Wolf Road at Metro Drive and the airport.
. As proposed, the highway would have had four intermediate exits.
Capital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
region of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The highway would have connected I-90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
in Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
to I-87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
near Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Albany, in Albany County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Albany County Airport Authority....
in Colonie
Colonie (town), New York
Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most populous suburb of Albany, New York, and is the third largest town in area in Albany County, occupying about 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population...
. I-687 faced opposition from those living in the path of the highway, and ultimately all that was built of the highway was its interchange with I-90 in Albany. The project was cancelled in 1973, and I-687 was removed from the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
four years later.
Route description
I-687 was to begin at exit 5A of I-90Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
near the northern city line of Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
. The Interstate Highway, named the Northside–Northway Connection, would have proceeded generally northwestward through the town of Colonie
Colonie (town), New York
Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most populous suburb of Albany, New York, and is the third largest town in area in Albany County, occupying about 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population...
, passing through a series of residential neighborhoods located to the west of Loudonville
Loudonville, New York
Loudonville is a hamlet in the town of Colonie, in Albany County, New York, United States. Loudonville was a census-designated place in the 1970, 1980, and 1990 US Census, but ceased to be in the 2000 Census.The area is not precisely defined...
and to the northeast of Roessleville
Roessleville, New York
Roessleville is a hamlet in the town of Colonie, Albany County, New York. It is a densely settled suburb of the city of Albany along New York State Route 5...
. Present-day Sand Creek Road approximates the proposed route. It would have had interchanges with Everett Road, Osborne Road, the proposed northward extension of the Crosstown Arterial (New York State Route 85 or NY 85), and Wolf Road before ending at exit 3 of the Adirondack Northway (I-87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) south of Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport
Albany International Airport is a public use airport located six nautical miles northwest of the central business district of Albany, in Albany County, New York, United States. It is owned by the Albany County Airport Authority....
. The highway would have been 4.6 miles (7.4 km) long.
History
The initial plans for the Capital DistrictCapital District
New York's Capital District, also known as the Capital Region, is a region in upstate New York that generally refers to the four counties surrounding Albany, the capital of the state: Albany County, Schenectady County, Rensselaer County, and Saratoga County...
's portion of the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
were drawn up in the late 1950s. One of the highways proposed at this time was I-687, also known as the "Northway Connection". When the Adirondack Northway (I-87
Interstate 87
Interstate 87 is a Interstate Highway located entirely within New York State in the United States of America. I-87 is the longest intrastate Interstate highway in the Interstate Highway System. Its southern end is at the Bronx approaches of the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge in New York City...
) was completed through Colonie
Colonie (town), New York
Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most populous suburb of Albany, New York, and is the third largest town in area in Albany County, occupying about 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population...
in 1960, a gap was left in the Northway's exit numbering system for an interchange with I-687. The exits with NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
(Central Avenue) and Albany Shaker Road were designated as exits 2 and 4, respectively, leaving exit 3 for I-687. No such gap was left on the toll-free section of I-90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
, where the I-687 exit was numbered exit 5A.
The construction of I-687 would have forced hundreds of households from their homes, which are located off of Albany Shaker Road. By way of comparison, today's Crossing Park in Colonie would have been directly in the path of the highway. As such, the project faced opposition from residents of the town of Colonie. The construction of the road was started despite the controversy surrounding it, and the interchange with I-90 was completed ca. 1972. Construction was halted soon afterward, however, as state and federal funds were diverted away from the project. I-687 and the proposed northward extension of the Crosstown Arterial (NY 85
New York State Route 85
New York State Route 85 is a state highway in Albany County, New York, in the United States. It is long and runs from County Route 351 and CR 353 in Rensselaerville to Interstate 90 exit 4 in Albany. It also has a loop route, NY 85A, which connects NY 85 to...
) were both cancelled by the state of New York in late September 1973, at which time the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
(NYSDOT) requested that I-687 be removed from the Interstate Highway System. The request was granted in 1977.
I-90 exit 5A, the only part of the project that was ever constructed, was left as an interchange to nowhere for roughly a decade. In the early 1980s, the large, freeway-standard trumpet interchange was linked up with Corporate Woods Boulevard, a local, two-lane street leading to an office park located just north of I-90 on Albany Shaker Road. Meanwhile, there is still no exit 3 on I-87 to this day. The New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
is now in the planning stages of constructing an exit 3 that would help relieve traffic congestion at exit 4. Exit 3 will be routed either to Albany International Airport or exit 4 will be completely relocated to meet with the airport. If exit 4 is relocated, exit 3 will become an access exit to Wolf Road at Metro Drive and the airport.
Exit list
The entire route would have been in Albany CountyAlbany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
. As proposed, the highway would have had four intermediate exits.
| Location | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Albany Albany, New York Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River... |
Southbound exit and northbound entrance | |
| Colonie Colonie (town), New York Colonie is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. It is the most populous suburb of Albany, New York, and is the third largest town in area in Albany County, occupying about 11% of the county. Several hamlets exist within the town. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population... |
Everett Road | |
| Osborne Road | ||
| Proposed extension of Crosstown Arterial; southbound exit and northbound entrance | ||
| Wolf Road | ||
| Northbound exit and southbound entrance |