Interstate 88 marker

Interstate 88

Senator Warren M. Anderson Expressway
Susquehanna Expressway
Map of eastern New York with I-88 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT
Length117.75 mi[1] (189.50 km)
ExistedDecember 13, 1968[2]–present
HistoryCompleted in 1989[2]
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
West end I-81 in Chenango
Major intersections
East end
 I-90 Toll / New York Thruway in Rotterdam
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountiesBroome, Chenango, Delaware, Otsego, Schoharie, Schenectady
Highway system
← NY 87→ NY 88

Interstate 88 (I-88) is an Interstate Highway located entirely within the US state of New York. Nominally signed as an east–west road as it has an even number, it extends for 117.75 miles (189.50 km) in a northeast–southwest direction from an interchange with I-81 north of the city of Binghamton to an interchange with the New York State Thruway (I-90) west of Schenectady. The freeway serves as an important connector route from the Capital District to Binghamton, Elmira (via New York State Route 17 or NY 17, I-86), and Scranton, Pennsylvania (via I-81). I-88 closely parallels NY 7, which was once the main route through the area.

I-88 was assigned in 1968, and construction of the highway began soon afterward. The first section of I-88 opened in the early 1970s, connecting two communities northeast of Binghamton. The last piece of the freeway was finished in 1989, linking the original segment to I-81 north of Binghamton. Early plans for I-88 called for the road to continue northeast to Troy; however, the east end of the route was moved to Schenectady in the early 1980s. A combined freeway/tollway in Illinois, though not contiguous, was also assigned the I-88 designation in 1987.[3]

Route description

Binghamton to Oneonta

I-88 begins here at I-81 near Binghamton, and heads northeast toward New York's Capital District.

I-88 begins at an interchange with I-81 just north of Downtown Binghamton on the banks of the Chenango River. While both directions of I-81 are accessible from I-88 westbound, only one direction of I-81 (northbound) connects to I-88. The missing connection, I-81 south to I-88 east, is made via US Route 11 (US 11), NY 12, and NY 12A at I-81 exit 6. NY 12A then connects to I-88 at exit 2.

From I-81, I-88 heads east across the Chenango to Port Dickinson, where it merges with NY 7 (here also a limited-access highway) at exit 1. The two routes continue north, then east along the eastern bank of the Chenango River, where it meets NY 12A near Chenango Bridge. I-88 and NY 7 remain alongside the river to Port Crane, where the river begins to follow NY 369 (exit 3) northward. Outside of Port Crane, the expressway heads east to Sanitaria Springs. Here, NY 7 leaves the expressway at exit 4 and begins to parallel I-88, as it does for the remainder of I-88's routing. I-88 begins to climb a hill, with the eastbound lane having three lanes then soon meets Martin Hill Road (NY 992P) at exit 5.

I-88 approaching its exit for NY 357

I-88 continues east to Harpursville, connecting to NY 79 near the center of the community at exit 6. Shortly after meeting NY 79, I-88 reenters a river valley, this time that of the Susquehanna River. I-88 heads to the northeast, following the river and NY 7 to Afton where it has an interchange with NY 41 exit 7. It continues to Bainbridge where it meets NY 206 and then on to Sidney, where it meets NY 8, the primary north–south road through the village, at exit 9. From Sidney, I-88 progresses northeast through southern Otsego County. It passes Unadilla, accessed by exit 10, then connects to NY 357 at exit 11. The expressway continues and reaches exit 12 which connects to Otego via NY 911J. It continues northeastward before entering Oneonta. Within the city, I-88 interchanges with NY 205 ahead of exit 14 with Main Street, which is the former routing of NY 28. The next interchange I-88 intersects NY 23 and NY 28 joins the expressway, following I-88 out of the city.

Oneonta to Schenectady

Northeast of Oneonta, NY 28 leaves I-88 at exit 17 to follow the Susquehanna River northward toward Cooperstown. I-88, however, remains on a northeasterly track through rural eastern Otsego County. Upon crossing into Schoharie County, I-88 begins to follow an easterly routing as it heads toward Cobleskill. While NY 7 enters the village, I-88 passes south of it, connecting to the village via two exits with NY 7. East of Cobleskill, I-88 interchanges with NY 145. Howe Caverns, a regionally popular attraction, is located a short distance north of the exit. I-88 continues onward, skirting the northern edge of Schoharie before passing into Schenectady County.

Eastbound on I-88 in Schoharie County

Shortly after entering Schenectady County, I-88 meets US 20 east of Duanesburg. Past US 20, I-88 continues northeast, interchanging with NY 7 for one final time before ending at the New York State Thruway (I-90) in western Schenectady.

History

The 1956 National System of Interstate and Defense Highways Act did not include I-88. New York state officials pressed for addition of the route, and funding was included in the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1968. Right-of-way acquisition started immediately afterward,[4] and I-88 was added to the Interstate Highway System on December 13, 1968.[2] As originally planned by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), I-88 would begin at I-81 in Binghamton and follow the proposed Susquehanna Expressway to Schenectady, from where it would continue to US 4 in Troy over "Alternate Route 7", the limited-access alignment of NY 7 through the northern suburbs of Albany.[5] This would have been accomplished by having I-88 meet the New York State Thruway at exit 25, where it would connect to I-890. I-88 would continue to Troy over I-890 and an upgraded NY 7.[6]

In the early 1980s, the proposed connection with I-890 was scrapped in favor of a connection located to the west of exit 25 in Rotterdam.[7][8] The extension to Troy was also eventually shelved, and thus the planned connections to the Adirondack Northway (I-87) and the toll-free part of I-90 between Thruway exit 24 and exit B1 on the Berkshire Connector were never built. As a result, the Thruway tolls are waived for all traffic that enters at exit 25A and heads west to exit 26 (I-890) or east to either exit 25 or 24 (I-890 or I-87/I-90, respectively).[9]

The first section of I-88 to open was the piece between Chenango Bridge (exit 2) and Sanitaria Springs (exit 4), which opened in the early 1970s.[6][10] A second piece near Oneonta between exits 13 and 15 was opened to traffic c. 1974.[11][12] Construction progressed southwestward from Oneonta, with the freeway reaching Nineveh (exit 6) by 1977.[13] The gap between Sanitaria Springs and Nineveh was filled by 1981. The focus then moved to the section of the expressway between Oneonta and Schenectady, which was completed from Oneonta to Duanesburg (exit 24) by 1981.[7] The Duanesburg–Schenectady leg of I-88 was opened to traffic by 1985.[8] In 1989, construction concluded on I-88[2] with the opening of the final portion of I-88 between I-81 in Chenango and NY 7 in Chenango Bridge.[8][14]

In 1999 NYSDOT, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) discussed redesignating the Berkshire Connector as I-90 and redesignating the nontoll part of I-90 from Thruway exit 24 to exit B1 on the Berkshire Connector as I-88. The section of the Thruway between exits 25 and 24 would then be codesignated as I-90 and I-88. This was never implemented.[15]

2006 flood

As a result of the June 2006 flooding in Upstate New York and Northeastern Pennsylvania, Carrs Creek washed out a 50-foot (15 m) section of I-88 southwest of Unadilla on June 28.[16] Around 6:20 am, two trucks from different directions drove into the chasm, apparently unaware of it, killing both drivers. David Swingle, 42, of Waverly, who was driving eastbound, was identified shortly after the accident.[17] The westbound trucker was Patrick O'Connell, 55, of Lisbon, Maine.[18] His body was found downstream several days after the water receded.[19]

NYSDOT started construction to replace the section of highway almost immediately, and it was reopened August 31.[20] Families of both victims planned to sue the state of New York for the incidents.[21]

Exit list

CountyLocation[22]mi[22]kmExitDestinationsNotes
BroomeDickinson0.000.00–


 I-81 south to I-86 / NY 17 – Binghamton

 I-81 north – Syracuse		No entrance from I-81 south
Fenton0.701.131
 NY 7 west – Binghamton, Port Dickinson		Western terminus of concurrency with NY 7; westbound exit and eastbound entrance
2.413.882

 NY 12A west to NY 12 – Chenango Bridge		NY 12 appears only on westbound signage
4.667.503

 NY 369 north / NY 7B east – Port Crane		Southern terminus of NY 369, western terminus of NY 7B
Colesville7.8312.604

 NY 7 east / NY 7B west – Sanitaria Springs		Eastern terminus of concurrency with NY 7, eastern terminus of NY 7B
12.0619.415Martin Hill Road – Belden /
To NY 7		To NY 7 via NY 992P; to NY 7 only signed westbound
16.0525.836 NY 79 – Harpursville, Nineveh
17.4228.03Susquehanna River
ChenangoTown of Afton23.3737.617 NY 41 – Afton
Town of Bainbridge29.4747.438 NY 206 – Bainbridge, MasonvilleMasonville appears only on eastbound signage
DelawareTown of Sidney33.0953.259 NY 8 – Sidney, MasonvilleMasonville appears only on westbound signage
37.3760.1410 NY 7 – UnadillaVia NY 991H
39.5063.57Unadilla Rest Area Rest Area (eastbound)
40.5865.3111 NY 357 – Unadilla, Franklin
42.4068.24Wells Bridge Rest Area Rest Area (westbound)
OtsegoTown of Otego46.8875.4512 NY 7 – Otego, Wells BridgeVia NY 991J
51.0182.09Susquehanna River
Oneonta53.5986.2413

 NY 205 to NY 23 west – Oneonta, Morris
55.8289.8314
 NY 28 south / Main Street		Eastbound exit and westbound entrance
56.7291.2815
 NY 23 / NY 28 south – Oneonta, Davenport		Western terminus of concurrency with NY 28; NY 28 appears only on westbound signage
Town of Oneonta58.7494.5316 CR 47 – Emmons, Davenport CenterVia NY 991F
Town of Milford61.0698.2717

 NY 28 north to NY 7 – Colliersville, Cooperstown		Eastern terminus of concurrency with NY 28
Maryland71.01114.2818 CR 56 – SchenevusVia NY 992H
Worcester73.60118.45West Worcester Rest Area (eastbound)
76.59123.2619
 To NY 7 – Worcester, East Worcester		Via NY 992J
78.90126.98East Worcester Rest Area (westbound)
SchoharieTown of Richmondville87.94141.5320
 NY 7 / NY 10 south – Richmondville
90.07144.9521
 NY 7 / NY 10 north – Warnerville, Cobleskill
Town of Cobleskill95.24153.2722 NY 7 / NY 145 – Cobleskill, Middleburgh
Town of Schoharie101.12162.7423 NY 7 / NY 30 / NY 30A – Schoharie, Central Bridge
SchenectadyDuanesburg111.93180.1324 US 20 / NY 7 – Duanesburg
Rotterdam116.75–
116.80		187.89–
187.97		25 NY 7 – Rotterdam, Schenectady
117.70189.42–

 I-90 Toll west / New York Thruway – Buffalo



 I-90 Toll east / New York Thruway to I-87 – Albany		Exit 25A on I-90 / Thruway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ↑ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Previous Interstate Facts of the Day". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Interstate 88 (Western)". Interstate Guide. Archived from the original on May 14, 2012. Retrieved October 4, 2014.
  4. ↑ New York's Interstate System – The Road to Mobility and Commerce. New York State Department of Transportation. June 1996.
  5. ↑ State of New York Department of Transportation (January 1, 1970). Official Description of Touring Routes in New York State (PDF). Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  6. 1 2 New York and New Jersey Tourgide Map (Map) (1972 ed.). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Gulf Oil Company. 1972.
  7. 1 2 I Love New York Tourism Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. State of New York. 1981.
  8. 1 2 3 New York (Map). Rand McNally and Company. 1985. ISBN 0-528-91040-X.
  9. ↑ "Interchange 25A Online Toll Ticket". New York State Thruway Authority. Archived from the original on June 14, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ New York and Metropolitan New York City (Map) (1969–70 ed.). Cartography by Diversified Map Corporation. Sun Oil Company. 1969.
  11. ↑ New York (Map) (1973 ed.). Cartography by H.M. Gousha Company. Shell Oil Company. 1973.
  12. ↑ New York and New Jersey Tourgide Map (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Gulf Oil Company. 1974.
  13. ↑ New York (Map) (1977–78 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. Exxon. 1977.
  14. ↑ Pennsylvania Official Transportation Map (PDF) (Map). Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. 1989. Retrieved May 11, 2010.
  15. ↑ Bergman Associates (February 13, 2008). "Hudson River Crossing Study" (PDF). Capital District Transportation Committee and New York State Department of Transportation. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2009.
  16. ↑ Wright, Jim (June 29, 2006). "Driver killed in I-88 bridge collapse identified". Press & Sun-Bulletin. Binghamton, NY. Archived from the original on January 31, 2013. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  17. ↑ Kates, William (June 29, 2006). "Waters slowly recede, residents begin cleaning up". USA Today. Archived from the original on May 22, 2008. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  18. ↑ "Victim in truck accident identified". News 10 Now. Syracuse, NY. July 3, 2006. Archived from the original on December 1, 2006. Retrieved October 31, 2007.
  19. ↑ "Body of trucker killed in storms found". Newsday. New York City. July 8, 2006.
  20. ↑ "Governor Pataki Tours and Announces the Reopening of I-88" (Press release). New York State Department of Transportation. August 31, 2006. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  21. ↑ "Suits pending in I-88 flood deaths". The Daily Star. Oneonta, NY. October 19, 2006.
  22. 1 2 Office of Technical Services (2014). "Inventory Listing". Engineering Division, New York State Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved December 15, 2015.
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