Interstate 990
Encyclopedia
Interstate 990 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within the town of Amherst
in Erie County, New York
, in the United States
. It runs in a roughly north–south direction for 6.43 miles (10.35 km) through the southwestern and central parts of Amherst from Interstate 290
north of Buffalo
to NY 263
(Millersport Highway) south of Lockport
. It is the highest numbered interstate highway in the United States. I-990 serves as a connection between Buffalo, the University at Buffalo
, and Lockport (via NY 263 and NY 78).
Like Interstate 590 in nearby Rochester
, I-990 does not physically meet Interstate 90, its parent interstate, instead making the connection by way of a "sibling" highway (I-290). I-990 is the highest-numbered Interstate Highway in actual use. The first portion of I-990, from I-290 to Sweet Home Road, opened to traffic in the early 1980s. I-990 was extended north to North French Road later in the decade, then to NY 263 in 1990.
Interstate 990 begins at a semi-directional T interchange with Interstate 290
in the Buffalo
suburb of Amherst
. It heads northward, paralleling the western edge of the University at Buffalo
campus. I-990 northbound provides access to the university at exit 1, which links to Audubon Parkway; a connection to the campus from I-990 southbound is available at exit 2 with Sweet Home Road (unsigned NY 952T). Past Sweet Home Road, I-990 curves to the east and meets the northern end of Audubon Parkway at exit 3.
I-990 continues on, paralleling Dodge Road (County Route 45) to the hamlet of Getzville, where the expressway passes over NY 270
. East of the overpass, I-990 veers northward and interchanges with North French Road (CR 299) at exit 4. North of exit 4, I-990 roughly parallels the routing of NY 263
(Millersport Highway) for 1 miles (1.6 km) before turning eastward toward the route. Just before exit 5, I-990's junction with NY 263, all traffic on I-990 is diverted onto the exit ramps leading NY 263 and I-990 itself ends at Millersport Highway. A small stub of highway exists east of the exit gore
on I-990 northbound.
Plans to construct a limited-access highway between Buffalo
and Lockport
were formulated as early as the 1970s. Under the 1971 Regional Highway Plan for the Buffalo – Niagara Falls area, the highway would begin at Interstate 290
and head generally northeasterly to NY 31
east of Lockport. In between, it would intersect the proposed Outer Belt Expressway as well as NY 78
(Transit Road).
The Outer Belt proposal was mostly dropped; however, construction began in the early 1980s on the portion of the Lockport Expressway from I-290 to Sweet Home Road. The highway was opened to traffic as I-990 by 1985. An extension of the highway to North French Road was built during the mid-1980s and completed by 1990 as part of I-990. A second extension of the freeway to NY 263
(Millersport Highway) southwest of Lockport was opened to traffic on December 21, 1990, and added to I-990 on October 22, 1993.
|0.00
|
|
|
|-
|1.34
|1
|Audubon Parkway – University at Buffalo
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|2.02
|2A-B
|Sweet Home Road (NY 952T)
|Single exit 2 northbound
|-
|3.07
|3
|Audubon Parkway – University at Buffalo
|
|-
|4.62
|4
|North French Road (CR 299)
|
|-
|6.43
|5
|
|At-grade intersection
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
in Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It runs in a roughly north–south direction for 6.43 miles (10.35 km) through the southwestern and central parts of Amherst from Interstate 290
Interstate 290 (New York)
Interstate 290 runs for near Buffalo, New York from I-90 to I-190. It connects Buffalo with its northern suburbs of Amherst and Tonawanda, and provides a route to Niagara Falls that bypasses the city of Buffalo. I-290 also connects to Interstate 990, and through this connection,...
north of Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to NY 263
New York State Route 263
New York State Route 263 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends from just north of the northeast corner of the city of Buffalo in a roughly northeast direction almost straight to just south of the north county...
(Millersport Highway) south of Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
. It is the highest numbered interstate highway in the United States. I-990 serves as a connection between Buffalo, the University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
, and Lockport (via NY 263 and NY 78).
Like Interstate 590 in nearby Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, I-990 does not physically meet Interstate 90, its parent interstate, instead making the connection by way of a "sibling" highway (I-290). I-990 is the highest-numbered Interstate Highway in actual use. The first portion of I-990, from I-290 to Sweet Home Road, opened to traffic in the early 1980s. I-990 was extended north to North French Road later in the decade, then to NY 263 in 1990.
Route description
Interstate 290 (New York)
Interstate 290 runs for near Buffalo, New York from I-90 to I-190. It connects Buffalo with its northern suburbs of Amherst and Tonawanda, and provides a route to Niagara Falls that bypasses the city of Buffalo. I-290 also connects to Interstate 990, and through this connection,...
in the Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
suburb of Amherst
Amherst, New York
Amherst is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 122,366. This represents an increase of 5.0% from the 2000 census. The town is named for Jeffrey Amherst, a British Army officer of the colonial period...
. It heads northward, paralleling the western edge of the University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
campus. I-990 northbound provides access to the university at exit 1, which links to Audubon Parkway; a connection to the campus from I-990 southbound is available at exit 2 with Sweet Home Road (unsigned NY 952T). Past Sweet Home Road, I-990 curves to the east and meets the northern end of Audubon Parkway at exit 3.
I-990 continues on, paralleling Dodge Road (County Route 45) to the hamlet of Getzville, where the expressway passes over NY 270
New York State Route 270
New York State Route 270 is a north–south state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs through rural and wooded areas of the town of Amherst in Erie County and the town of Pendleton in Niagara County. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 263...
. East of the overpass, I-990 veers northward and interchanges with North French Road (CR 299) at exit 4. North of exit 4, I-990 roughly parallels the routing of NY 263
New York State Route 263
New York State Route 263 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends from just north of the northeast corner of the city of Buffalo in a roughly northeast direction almost straight to just south of the north county...
(Millersport Highway) for 1 miles (1.6 km) before turning eastward toward the route. Just before exit 5, I-990's junction with NY 263, all traffic on I-990 is diverted onto the exit ramps leading NY 263 and I-990 itself ends at Millersport Highway. A small stub of highway exists east of the exit gore
Gore (road)
A gore, gore point, or gore zone is a triangular piece of land found where roads merge or split. When two roads merge, the area is sometimes referred to as a merge nose...
on I-990 northbound.
History
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
were formulated as early as the 1970s. Under the 1971 Regional Highway Plan for the Buffalo – Niagara Falls area, the highway would begin at Interstate 290
Interstate 290 (New York)
Interstate 290 runs for near Buffalo, New York from I-90 to I-190. It connects Buffalo with its northern suburbs of Amherst and Tonawanda, and provides a route to Niagara Falls that bypasses the city of Buffalo. I-290 also connects to Interstate 990, and through this connection,...
and head generally northeasterly to NY 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
east of Lockport. In between, it would intersect the proposed Outer Belt Expressway as well as NY 78
New York State Route 78
New York State Route 78 , most commonly known as Transit Road, is a state highway in Western New York, USA. While it is signed north–south, the lower portion runs in an east–west direction across Wyoming County, from its beginning north of the Village of Gainesville.NY 78 is...
(Transit Road).
The Outer Belt proposal was mostly dropped; however, construction began in the early 1980s on the portion of the Lockport Expressway from I-290 to Sweet Home Road. The highway was opened to traffic as I-990 by 1985. An extension of the highway to North French Road was built during the mid-1980s and completed by 1990 as part of I-990. A second extension of the freeway to NY 263
New York State Route 263
New York State Route 263 is a state highway located entirely within the town of Amherst in Erie County, New York, in the United States. It extends from just north of the northeast corner of the city of Buffalo in a roughly northeast direction almost straight to just south of the north county...
(Millersport Highway) southwest of Lockport was opened to traffic on December 21, 1990, and added to I-990 on October 22, 1993.
Exit list
|-|0.00
|
|
|
|-
|1.34
|1
|Audubon Parkway – University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|2.02
|2A-B
|Sweet Home Road (NY 952T)
|Single exit 2 northbound
|-
|3.07
|3
|Audubon Parkway – University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York
University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, also commonly known as the University at Buffalo or UB, is a public research university and a "University Center" in the State University of New York system. The university was founded by Millard Fillmore in 1846. UB has multiple campuses...
|
|-
|4.62
|4
|North French Road (CR 299)
|
|-
|6.43
|5
|
|At-grade intersection
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...