U.S. Route 4 in New York
Encyclopedia
U.S. Route 4 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from East Greenbush, New York, to Portsmouth, New Hampshire
. In the U.S. state
of New York
, US 4 extends 79.75 miles (128.34 km) from an intersection with US 9 and US 20
in East Greenbush to the Vermont
state line northeast of Whitehall
. While the remainder of US 4 east of New York is an east–west route, US 4 in New York is signed north–south due to the alignment the route takes through the state. The portion of the route between Waterford and Whitehall is part of the Lakes to Locks Passage
, an All-American Road.
The route runs along the Hudson River
from Troy to Hudson Falls
and the Champlain Canal
from Fort Ann
to Whitehall
. It passes through several riverside and canalside communities, including two cities (Troy and Mechanicville
) and seven villages. US 4 crosses several major east–west highways as it proceeds north, such as Interstate 90 (I-90) in East Greenbush, New York State Route 7 (NY 7) in Troy, NY 29
in Schuylerville
, and NY 149
in Fort Ann. It also overlaps with the north–south NY 22
for 6 miles (10 km) from Comstock to Whitehall and with NY 32
for a total of 16 miles (26 km) between Waterford and Bemis Heights and from Schuylerville to Northumberland
.
US 4 was assigned in 1926 and initially extended from Glens Falls
to the Vermont border near Whitehall by way of Hudson Falls. The route utilized part of NY 6 and NY 30, two highways assigned in 1924. US 4 was extended southward to its present terminus in East Greenbush as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. Much of US 4 south of Hudson Falls initially overlapped with other routes; most of the overlaps were gradually eliminated during the 1940s and 1950s as the concurrent routes were eliminated or truncated. At one time, US 4 overlapped with NY 32 from Waterford to Northumberland with no interruption in between. The concurrency was split into two shorter overlaps when US 4 was realigned in the 1950s to follow its current alignment between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville.
The portion of US 4 between NY 32
in Waterford and NY 22
in Whitehall
is the southernmost part of the Lakes to Locks Passage
, an All-American Road that begins in Waterford and heads north through eastern New York
to Rouses Point
. Additionally, the segment of US 4 between the northern city line of Mechanicville
and the eastern village line of Whitehall is designated as the Turning Point Trail.
Most of the route is maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation
(NYSDOT); however, two sections are maintained by local highway departments. The first lies within the city of Troy
, where US 4 is completely city-maintained. The other is in the city of Mechanicville
, where local maintenance extends from Frances Street (four blocks south of NY 67
) to the northern city line.
in East Greenbush
. Heading northward, it has an interchange with I-90
, continuing northward into Troy
. In Troy, it passes by Hudson Valley Community College
as well as the headquarters of the 42nd Infantry Division. US 4 then heads downhill, passing the historic South End Tavern as Burden Avenue, named for the historic Burden Iron Works. Later, US 4 assumes Fourth Street, which splits into parallel one-way streets (Third Street handles southbound traffic from downtown). At Congress Street, in the middle of the Central Troy Historic District
with St. Paul's Episcopal Church
on the corner, it intersects NY 2
. Once through downtown, the streets meet and pass by the Green Island Bridge
, later passing under the Collar City Bridge
and onto Second Avenue in Lansingburgh
.
After Lansingburgh, US 4 turns left to cross the Hudson River
on the Troy–Waterford Bridge, entering Waterford
, joining with NY 32
to head north together west of the Hudson. They run along the riverbank for 7 miles (11 km) to the city of Mechanicville
, where the routes cross over Anthony Kill and intersect NY 67
in the central business district. US 4 and NY 32 continue on, passing through the nearby village of Stillwater
before splitting at Bemis Heights, a small community 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Mechanicville. While NY 32 follows a more inland routing along the western edge of Saratoga National Historical Park
, US 4 continues to follow the riverbank, running along the eastern boundary of the park. Past the park, the route passes by the Saratoga National Cemetery
before rejoining NY 32 at the southern edge of the village of Schuylerville
.
after Schuylerville, passing through the hamlets of Northumberland and Starks Knob. At a crossing over the Hudson River, Routes 4 and the concurrent Route 32 split in different directions. Route 4, which is now on the other side of the Hudson, continues northward through Fort Miller, and crosses the River once more. The route then enters Fort Edward, where it becomes concurrent with NY 197
.
With the Hudson River to its west, Route 4 heads northward once again, leaving Route 197 behind. Not far after Fort Edward, the highway enters Hudson Falls
, where it turns into a local road. There, it heads through downtown, intersecting with NY 196
, and soon afterwards, NY 254
. Route 4 makes a sudden curve to the northeast, heading through the rural regions for the rest of its length.
There is one final intersection with Route 32, but they do not become concurrent and Route 4 heads to the northeast. The route passes through Kingsbury and soon after, becomes concurrent with NY 149
. The two routes head into Fort Ann
, where they split, with Route 149 heading westward. After passing Battle Hill, Route 22 merges in from Comstock. There are several hills before the intersection where the two roads split in Whitehall
. Route 4 continues along its final stretch after Route 22, passing fields and such to the state line, where it continues into Vermont.
extending from the southern village line of Stillwater
to the western village line of Schuylerville
via the hamlet of Quaker Springs. On March 1, 1921, Route 43 was renumbered to Route 44 to eliminate numerical duplication with another legislative Route 43 in western New York
. At the same time, Route 44 was extended southwest from Stillwater to Clifton Park
via Mechanicville
and west from Schuylerville to Saratoga Springs
.
The first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924. Two of the routes assigned at this time were NY 6, a north–south route extending from the New York City
line to the Canadian border, and NY 30, another north–south route connecting NY 6 in Mechanicville
to the Vermont
state line west of Fair Haven. NY 6 left Albany
on modern NY 32
and followed it to Mechanicville, where NY 6 veered westward on what is now NY 67
and NY 30 picked up the current alignment of NY 32. NY 30 continued north on modern NY 32 to Glens Falls
, at which point it went east to Hudson Falls
via Warren and River Streets. It headed northward from there to Vermont on modern US 4. From Mechanicville to Schuylerville, NY 30 utilized the alignment of legislative Route 44. By 1926, NY 30 was rerouted north of Whitehall
to continue north toward the Canadian border. The old alignment of NY 30 between Whitehall and Vermont was not assigned a new number. Meanwhile, an alternate route of NY 6 on the east side of the Hudson River
between NY 5
(now US 20) in East Greenbush and NY 6 in Waterford was designated as NY 6B by 1926.
In the original plans for the U.S. Highway System, the north–south highway along the western bank of the Hudson River was designated as US 9 while the highway on the eastern bank was assigned US 109. The two routes were concurrent from Albany to Mechanicville, where US 9 went west to follow NY 6 while US 109 continued north on NY 30. The designations met again south of Glens Falls, where US 109 ended at US 9. Also in the original plans was US 4, which was assigned to all of NY 30's original alignment between Glens Falls and the Vermont state line. In the final system alignment approved on November 11, 1926, the routing of US 9 was altered to follow its modern alignment between Albany and Glens Falls while US 109 was reconfigured to use NY 6B between East Greenbush and Waterford.
. The portion of US 9's former routing between Waterford and Mechanicville as well as all of US 9E north of US 20 became a southward extension of US 4, which left its original alignment in Hudson Falls and followed a previously unnumbered riverside highway south to Northumberland
. In between Northumberland and Mechanicville, it utilized the former routing of NY 30, which was reassigned to another highway
as part of the renumbering.
Virtually all of US 4 south of Hudson Falls initially overlapped other routes, all of which were assigned as part of the renumbering. In between Hudson Falls and Northumberland, US 4 overlapped NY 32B
, which began in Glens Falls and followed US 4's former routing east to Hudson Falls. From Northumberland to Schuylerville
and from Bemis Heights to Waterford, US 4 was part of NY 32
. The segment from Schuylerville to Bemis Heights was designated NY 32A. Lastly, the part of US 4 south of Northern Drive (then-NY 40
) in Troy
was concurrent to NY 40. By 1932, NY 40 was rerouted through Troy to follow a more easterly alignment through the city. The realignment moved the northern end of the overlap southward to the junction of US 4 and Winter Street in North Greenbush
.
Most of the overlaps were eliminated as time went on. In the early 1940s, NY 32A was reassigned to another highway
in the Catskill Mountains
while NY 32B was truncated to end in Hudson Falls. The former routing of NY 32A became a realignment of NY 32, creating an uninterrupted overlap between US 4 and NY 32 from Waterford to Northumberland. In the mid-1950s, work began on a project to upgrade a pre-existing riverside highway between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville. The project was completed by 1958, at which time the roadway became part of a realigned US 4. The overlap with NY 40 was eliminated in the late 1950s when NY 40 was truncated to begin at the junction of US 4 and Winter Street.
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Portsmouth is a city in Rockingham County, New Hampshire in the United States. It is the largest city but only the fourth-largest community in the county, with a population of 21,233 at the 2010 census...
. In the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
, US 4 extends 79.75 miles (128.34 km) from an intersection with US 9 and US 20
U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
in East Greenbush to the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
state line northeast of Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. While the remainder of US 4 east of New York is an east–west route, US 4 in New York is signed north–south due to the alignment the route takes through the state. The portion of the route between Waterford and Whitehall is part of the Lakes to Locks Passage
Lakes to Locks Passage
The New York State byway known as Lakes to Locks Passage unifies the interconnected waterway of the upper Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George, and Lake Champlain; this waterway is the core of North America’s first “super-highway” between upstate New York, USA and the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, an All-American Road.
The route runs along the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
from Troy to Hudson Falls
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
and the Champlain Canal
Champlain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
from Fort Ann
Fort Ann (village), New York
Fort Ann is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 471 at the 2000 census...
to Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. It passes through several riverside and canalside communities, including two cities (Troy and Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
) and seven villages. US 4 crosses several major east–west highways as it proceeds north, such as Interstate 90 (I-90) in East Greenbush, New York State Route 7 (NY 7) in Troy, NY 29
New York State Route 29
New York State Route 29 is a state highway extending for across the eastern portion of the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 28 and NY 169 in Middleville, Herkimer County. The eastern terminus of the route is at NY 22 just south of Salem,...
in Schuylerville
Schuylerville, New York
Schuylerville is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Schuyler family....
, and NY 149
New York State Route 149
New York State Route 149 is an east–west state highway that runs for through the Capital District of New York in the United States. It begins at exit 20 on the Adirondack Northway in the Warren County town of Queensbury and intersects U.S...
in Fort Ann. It also overlaps with the north–south NY 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
for 6 miles (10 km) from Comstock to Whitehall and with NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
for a total of 16 miles (26 km) between Waterford and Bemis Heights and from Schuylerville to Northumberland
Northumberland, New York
Northumberland is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 4,603 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a location in Great Britain....
.
US 4 was assigned in 1926 and initially extended from Glens Falls
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
to the Vermont border near Whitehall by way of Hudson Falls. The route utilized part of NY 6 and NY 30, two highways assigned in 1924. US 4 was extended southward to its present terminus in East Greenbush as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. Much of US 4 south of Hudson Falls initially overlapped with other routes; most of the overlaps were gradually eliminated during the 1940s and 1950s as the concurrent routes were eliminated or truncated. At one time, US 4 overlapped with NY 32 from Waterford to Northumberland with no interruption in between. The concurrency was split into two shorter overlaps when US 4 was realigned in the 1950s to follow its current alignment between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville.
Route description
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
in Waterford and NY 22
New York State Route 22
New York State Route 22 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the state's eastern edge from the outskirts of New York City to a short distance south of the Canadian border. At , it is the state's longest north–south route and...
in Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
is the southernmost part of the Lakes to Locks Passage
Lakes to Locks Passage
The New York State byway known as Lakes to Locks Passage unifies the interconnected waterway of the upper Hudson River, Champlain Canal, Lake George, and Lake Champlain; this waterway is the core of North America’s first “super-highway” between upstate New York, USA and the Province of Quebec, Canada...
, an All-American Road that begins in Waterford and heads north through eastern 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...
to Rouses Point
Rouses Point, New York
Rouses Point is a village in Clinton County, New York, United States, along the 45th parallel. The population was 2,209 at the 2010 census. The village is named after Jacques Rouse, an early settler....
. Additionally, the segment of US 4 between the northern city line of Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
and the eastern village line of Whitehall is designated as the Turning Point Trail.
Most of the route is maintained by 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); however, two sections are maintained by local highway departments. The first lies within the city of Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
, where US 4 is completely city-maintained. The other is in the city of Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
, where local maintenance extends from Frances Street (four blocks south of NY 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
) to the northern city line.
East Greenbush to Schuylerville
US 4 begins at the concurrency of US 9 and US 20U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
in East Greenbush
East Greenbush (CDP), New York
East Greenbush is a census-designated place in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. The population was 4,085 at the 2000 census.East Greenbush is mostly within the south part of the town of East Greenbush, but a small section of the community extends southward into the town of Schodack.U.S....
. Heading northward, it has an interchange with 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...
, continuing northward into Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
. In Troy, it passes by Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College
Hudson Valley Community College, a SUNY associated two-year college, is located in Troy in Rensselaer County, New York. Although about eighty percent of the students are from the local area, the remainder are from other parts of New York, other states and from some 30 countries around the...
as well as the headquarters of the 42nd Infantry Division. US 4 then heads downhill, passing the historic South End Tavern as Burden Avenue, named for the historic Burden Iron Works. Later, US 4 assumes Fourth Street, which splits into parallel one-way streets (Third Street handles southbound traffic from downtown). At Congress Street, in the middle of the Central Troy Historic District
Central Troy Historic District
The Central Troy Historic District is an irregularly-shaped, area of downtown Troy, New York, United States. It has been described as "one of the most perfectly preserved 19th-century downtowns in the [country]" with nearly 700 properties in a variety of architectural styles from the early 19th to...
with St. Paul's Episcopal Church
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (Troy, New York)
St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Troy, New York, United States, is located at Third and State streets. It is home to one of the oldest congregations in the city. In 1979, the church and two outbuildings were added to the National Register of Historic Places...
on the corner, it intersects NY 2
New York State Route 2
New York State Route 2 is a state highway in the Capital District of New York, United States. It extends from an interchange with Interstate 87 and NY 7 in the hamlet of Latham within the town of Colonie to the Massachusetts state line, where it continues to Boston as Route 2....
. Once through downtown, the streets meet and pass by the Green Island Bridge
Green Island Bridge
The Green Island Bridge crosses the Hudson River in New York, connecting Green Island with Troy. It opened September 12, 1981.-History:The original Rensselaer and Saratoga Railroad bridge was a wood-truss covered bridge built in 1832. On May 10, 1862 it caught fire from the sparks of a passing...
, later passing under the Collar City Bridge
Collar City Bridge
The Collar City Bridge carries NY 7 across the Hudson River connecting Colonie, New York with Troy, by way of passing over Green Island...
and onto Second Avenue in Lansingburgh
Lansingburgh, New York
Lansingburgh was the first chartered village in Rensselaer County, New York, USA and was settled around 1763. The name is from Abraham Lansing, an early settler, combined with the Scottish word burgh....
.
After Lansingburgh, US 4 turns left to cross the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
on the Troy–Waterford Bridge, entering Waterford
Waterford (village), New York
Waterford is a village in Saratoga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,204 at the 2000 census. The name derives from the ford between the mainland and Peebles Island....
, joining with NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
to head north together west of the Hudson. They run along the riverbank for 7 miles (11 km) to the city of Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
, where the routes cross over Anthony Kill and intersect NY 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
in the central business district. US 4 and NY 32 continue on, passing through the nearby village of Stillwater
Stillwater (village), New York
Stillwater is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,644 at the 2000 census.The Village of Stillwater is in the southeast part of the Town of Stillwater, north of the City of Mechanicville.- History :...
before splitting at Bemis Heights, a small community 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Mechanicville. While NY 32 follows a more inland routing along the western edge of Saratoga National Historical Park
Saratoga National Historical Park
Saratoga National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park located in eastern New York State forty miles north of Albany, New York.-Description:...
, US 4 continues to follow the riverbank, running along the eastern boundary of the park. Past the park, the route passes by the Saratoga National Cemetery
Gerald B. H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery
Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in the Town of Saratoga in Saratoga County, New York. It encompasses , and as of the end of 2005 had 5,012 interments.- History :...
before rejoining NY 32 at the southern edge of the village of Schuylerville
Schuylerville, New York
Schuylerville is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Schuyler family....
.
Schuylerville to Vermont line
Route 4 begins to run along the Champlain CanalChamplain Canal
The Champlain Canal is a canal that connects the south end of Lake Champlain to the Hudson River in New York. It was simultaneously constructed with the Erie Canal and is now part of the New York State Canal System and the Lakes to Locks Passage....
after Schuylerville, passing through the hamlets of Northumberland and Starks Knob. At a crossing over the Hudson River, Routes 4 and the concurrent Route 32 split in different directions. Route 4, which is now on the other side of the Hudson, continues northward through Fort Miller, and crosses the River once more. The route then enters Fort Edward, where it becomes concurrent with NY 197
New York State Route 197
New York State Route 197 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York, United States. It runs from U.S. Route 9 in the Saratoga County town of Moreau east to NY 40 in Argyle. NY 197 has a short overlap with U.S...
.
With the Hudson River to its west, Route 4 heads northward once again, leaving Route 197 behind. Not far after Fort Edward, the highway enters Hudson Falls
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
, where it turns into a local road. There, it heads through downtown, intersecting with NY 196
New York State Route 196
New York State Route 196 is a state route in New York, running from the village of Hudson Falls east to the hamlet of South Hartford in Hartford, Washington County....
, and soon afterwards, NY 254
New York State Route 254
New York State Route 254 is a state highway that extends for through Warren and Washington Counties in the Capital District of New York, United States...
. Route 4 makes a sudden curve to the northeast, heading through the rural regions for the rest of its length.
There is one final intersection with Route 32, but they do not become concurrent and Route 4 heads to the northeast. The route passes through Kingsbury and soon after, becomes concurrent with NY 149
New York State Route 149
New York State Route 149 is an east–west state highway that runs for through the Capital District of New York in the United States. It begins at exit 20 on the Adirondack Northway in the Warren County town of Queensbury and intersects U.S...
. The two routes head into Fort Ann
Fort Ann (village), New York
Fort Ann is a village in Washington County, New York, United States. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The village population was 471 at the 2000 census...
, where they split, with Route 149 heading westward. After passing Battle Hill, Route 22 merges in from Comstock. There are several hills before the intersection where the two roads split in Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Route 4 continues along its final stretch after Route 22, passing fields and such to the state line, where it continues into Vermont.
Origins and assignment
In 1911, the New York State Legislature created Route 43, an unsigned legislative routeLegislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
extending from the southern village line of Stillwater
Stillwater (village), New York
Stillwater is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,644 at the 2000 census.The Village of Stillwater is in the southeast part of the Town of Stillwater, north of the City of Mechanicville.- History :...
to the western village line of Schuylerville
Schuylerville, New York
Schuylerville is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Schuyler family....
via the hamlet of Quaker Springs. On March 1, 1921, Route 43 was renumbered to Route 44 to eliminate numerical duplication with another legislative Route 43 in western New York
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
. At the same time, Route 44 was extended southwest from Stillwater to Clifton Park
Clifton Park, New York
Clifton Park is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. According to the United States Census Bureau, the 2009 population estimate for Clifton Park was 36,469. The name is derived from an early land patent...
via Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
and west from Schuylerville to Saratoga Springs
Saratoga Springs, New York
Saratoga Springs, also known as simply Saratoga, is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 26,586 at the 2010 census. The name reflects the presence of mineral springs in the area. While the word "Saratoga" is known to be a corruption of a Native American name, ...
.
The first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924. Two of the routes assigned at this time were NY 6, a north–south route extending from the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
line to the Canadian border, and NY 30, another north–south route connecting NY 6 in Mechanicville
Mechanicville, New York
Mechanicville is a city in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population is 5,196 as of the 2010 census. It is the smallest city by area in the state. The name is derived from the occupations of early residents....
to the Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
state line west of Fair Haven. NY 6 left 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...
on modern NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
and followed it to Mechanicville, where NY 6 veered westward on what is now NY 67
New York State Route 67
New York State Route 67 is an east–west state highway in eastern New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in the town of St. Johnsville...
and NY 30 picked up the current alignment of NY 32. NY 30 continued north on modern NY 32 to Glens Falls
Glens Falls, New York
Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States. Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census...
, at which point it went east to Hudson Falls
Hudson Falls, New York
Hudson Falls is a village located in Washington County, New York, USA. The village is in the southwest part of the town of Kingsbury, on US Route 4. Hudson Falls is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 6,927...
via Warren and River Streets. It headed northward from there to Vermont on modern US 4. From Mechanicville to Schuylerville, NY 30 utilized the alignment of legislative Route 44. By 1926, NY 30 was rerouted north of Whitehall
Whitehall (village), New York
Whitehall is a village located in the town of Whitehall in Washington County, New York, USA. It is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area...
to continue north toward the Canadian border. The old alignment of NY 30 between Whitehall and Vermont was not assigned a new number. Meanwhile, an alternate route of NY 6 on the east side of the Hudson River
Hudson River
The Hudson is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The highest official source is at Lake Tear of the Clouds, on the slopes of Mount Marcy in the Adirondack Mountains. The river itself officially begins in Henderson Lake in Newcomb, New York...
between 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...
(now US 20) in East Greenbush and NY 6 in Waterford was designated as NY 6B by 1926.
In the original plans for the U.S. Highway System, the north–south highway along the western bank of the Hudson River was designated as US 9 while the highway on the eastern bank was assigned US 109. The two routes were concurrent from Albany to Mechanicville, where US 9 went west to follow NY 6 while US 109 continued north on NY 30. The designations met again south of Glens Falls, where US 109 ended at US 9. Also in the original plans was US 4, which was assigned to all of NY 30's original alignment between Glens Falls and the Vermont state line. In the final system alignment approved on November 11, 1926, the routing of US 9 was altered to follow its modern alignment between Albany and Glens Falls while US 109 was reconfigured to use NY 6B between East Greenbush and Waterford.
Southward extension and overlaps
When U.S. Highways were first posted in New York in 1927, US 9 was restored to its originally planned alignment between Albany and Glens Falls (via Waterford and Mechanicville) while the US 109 designation went unassigned. The portion of US 109's alignment south of Waterford became US 9E instead. US 4 was assigned as planned in 1926, overlapping NY 30 between Glens Falls and Whitehall. The NY 6 designation was completely removed at this time. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, US 9 was realigned to follow its modern routing between Albany and Round LakeRound Lake, New York
Round Lake is a lake and a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 604 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from a circular lake adjacent to the village...
. The portion of US 9's former routing between Waterford and Mechanicville as well as all of US 9E north of US 20 became a southward extension of US 4, which left its original alignment in Hudson Falls and followed a previously unnumbered riverside highway south to Northumberland
Northumberland, New York
Northumberland is a town in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 4,603 at the 2000 census. The name comes from a location in Great Britain....
. In between Northumberland and Mechanicville, it utilized the former routing of NY 30, which was reassigned to another highway
New York State Route 30
New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier to the Canadian border in the state's North Country, where it continues into Quebec as Route 138. On a regional level,...
as part of the renumbering.
Virtually all of US 4 south of Hudson Falls initially overlapped other routes, all of which were assigned as part of the renumbering. In between Hudson Falls and Northumberland, US 4 overlapped NY 32B
New York State Route 32B
New York State Route 32B was a state highway in the Capital District region of New York, United States. The western terminus of the route was at an intersection with NY 32 in Queensbury. Its eastern terminus was at a junction with U.S. Route 4 in Hudson Falls...
, which began in Glens Falls and followed US 4's former routing east to Hudson Falls. From Northumberland to Schuylerville
Schuylerville, New York
Schuylerville is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,197 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the Schuyler family....
and from Bemis Heights to Waterford, US 4 was part of NY 32
New York State Route 32
New York State Route 32 is a north–south state highway that extends for through the Hudson Valley and Capital District regions of the U.S. state of New York. It is a two-lane surface road for nearly its entire length, with few divided and no limited-access sections. From Harriman to Albany,...
. The segment from Schuylerville to Bemis Heights was designated NY 32A. Lastly, the part of US 4 south of Northern Drive (then-NY 40
New York State Route 40
New York State Route 40 is a north–south state highway in eastern New York, United States. It is long and runs from NY 7 in the city of Troy north to NY 22 in the town of Granville. NY 40 also passes through the villages of Schaghticoke and Argyle and enters the vicinity of...
) in Troy
Troy, New York
Troy is a city in the US State of New York and the seat of Rensselaer County. Troy is located on the western edge of Rensselaer County and on the eastern bank of the Hudson River. Troy has close ties to the nearby cities of Albany and Schenectady, forming a region popularly called the Capital...
was concurrent to NY 40. By 1932, NY 40 was rerouted through Troy to follow a more easterly alignment through the city. The realignment moved the northern end of the overlap southward to the junction of US 4 and Winter Street in North Greenbush
North Greenbush, New York
North Greenbush is a town in Rensselaer County, New York, United States. North Greenbush is located in the western part of the county. The population was 10,805 at the 2000 census....
.
Most of the overlaps were eliminated as time went on. In the early 1940s, NY 32A was reassigned to another highway
New York State Route 32A
New York State Route 32A is a state highway in the Hudson Valley region of New York in the United States. It serves as a connector between NY 32 in the town of Saugerties and NY 23A in the town of Catskill...
in the Catskill Mountains
Catskill Mountains
The Catskill Mountains, an area in New York State northwest of New York City and southwest of Albany, are a mature dissected plateau, an uplifted region that was subsequently eroded into sharp relief. They are an eastward continuation, and the highest representation, of the Allegheny Plateau...
while NY 32B was truncated to end in Hudson Falls. The former routing of NY 32A became a realignment of NY 32, creating an uninterrupted overlap between US 4 and NY 32 from Waterford to Northumberland. In the mid-1950s, work began on a project to upgrade a pre-existing riverside highway between Bemis Heights and Schuylerville. The project was completed by 1958, at which time the roadway became part of a realigned US 4. The overlap with NY 40 was eliminated in the late 1950s when NY 40 was truncated to begin at the junction of US 4 and Winter Street.