New York State Route 12

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

NY Route 12
Length: 222.27 mi[1] (357.71 km)
Formed: 1924[2]
South end: US 11 in Chenango
Major
junctions:		 NY 23 in Norwich
US 20 in Sangerfield
I-790 / NY 5 / NY 8 in Utica
US 11 / NY 3 in Watertown
I-81 in Orleans
North end: NY 37 in Morristown
Counties: Broome, Chenango, Madison, Oneida, Lewis, Jefferson, St. Lawrence
Numbered highways in New York
< NY 11C NY 12B >
Interstate - U.S. - N.Y. - Reference

New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for 222.27 miles (357.71 km) through central and northern New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango (just north of Binghamton) in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of Morristown in the North Country. In between, the route serves three cities of varying size: Norwich, Utica, and Watertown. The distance between Utica and Binghamton is a major trucking route, and features many gas stations, truck stops, and fast food restaurants. Between Watertown and Morristown, it follows the St. Lawrence River valley.

It is a two lane, undivided, full access roadway for the majority of its length, except between the village of New Hartford and Alder Creek, where it is a 4-lane highway. Within that span, it is a limited access highway in the city of Utica, referred locally as The Arterial and the North-South Arterial.

Route 12 intersects several primary east-west routes, including U.S. Route 20, NY 5, and NY 3. From Barneveld to the town of Remsen (a distance of 11 miles (18 km), NY 12 overlaps NY 28. NY 12 also intersects US 11 twice: once at its beginning in Binghamton and once in Watertown. Between these intersections, NY 12 arcs eastward from US 11, with the stretch right after Utica being its eastern apex. NY 12 also connects with Interstate 81 near both its beginning and end points in the same manner.

NY 12, as originally assigned in 1924, extended from Chenango in the south to Clayton in the north. It was extended east over the former routing of NY 3 to Alexandria Bay in 1930, then along a new roadway to Morristown in the 1960s. Parts of NY 12 have been rerouted onto new roadways in areas, primarily in Oneida County.

Contents

[edit] Route description

[edit] Broome and Chenango Counties

NY 12 begins at U.S. Route 11 north of Binghamton in the central Broome County town of Chenango. The route heads north through the Chenango River valley, connecting to both Interstate 81 (via US 11) and Interstate 88 (via NY 12A) and passing west of Chenango Valley State Park before traversing the Tioughnioga River (just west of where it forks from the Chenango) near the community of Chenango Forks. On the northern bank of the river, NY 12 intersects and briefly overlaps NY 79 before continuing northward through the valley and into Chenango County.

Within Chenango County, NY 12 acts as the primary connector between the numerous communities located along the Chenango. In Greene, NY 12 intersects NY 206 and overlaps NY 41 for six blocks through the village before continuing northeast for 12 miles (19 km) to Oxford, home to a short concurrency with NY 220. After another 6 miles (9.7 km), NY 12 enters the city of Norwich, the largest settlement on the route in the county, and becomes South Broad Street. The South Broad moniker remains with the route northward through the city until the downtown district, where NY 12 turns into North Broad Street at a junction with NY 23. NY 12 loses the street name soon afterward as it leaves the city and intersects NY 320 north of Norwich and south of Norwich Lt. Warren Eaton Airport.

The route and the Chenango River remain in close proximity to one another up through the village of Sherburne, situated at the junction between NY 12 and NY 80. North of the village center, the river breaks to the west, following NY 12B to the northwest while NY 12 continues northward into rural Madison County.

[edit] Madison and Oneida Counties

Across the county line, NY 12 joins the Sangerfield River as it heads north through the narrow southeastern portion of the county (with a width of only 10 miles (16 km)). Near the northern border of Madison County, the route shifts slightly east to bypass a marshy area around the Sangerfield River known as the Ninemile Swamp. The conditions persist into Oneida County to just south of the Sangerfield hamlet of the same name, where the swamp ends as the river curves away from NY 12. At the actual community, NY 12 intersects U.S. Route 20.

The route continues north for an additional 1 mile (1.6 km) to the village of Waterville, home to an intersection between NY 12 and NY 315. Outside of Waterville, NY 12 heads north once more through hilly, sparsely populated areas of New York toward Utica. In the Utica suburb of New Hartford, the route intersects NY 5 a short distance east of where NY 12B terminates at NY 5. NY 12 turns east, joining NY 5 northeast on a limited-access highway known locally as the North-South Arterial. Upon crossing into the Utica city limits, the Arterial intersects NY 8 and NY 840 by way of a cloverleaf interchange. NY 8 joins the freeway here, following NY 5 and NY 12 through southern Utica as it interchanges with French Road and Burrstone Road. After the Burrstone Road interchange, the arterial becomes a divided highway through downtown before becoming limited-access once more at an interchange with Oriskany Street (NY 5A and NY 5S).

Diagram of the interchange between I-790, NY 5, NY 8, NY 12 and NY 49
Diagram of the interchange between I-790, NY 5, NY 8, NY 12 and NY 49

Between Oriskany Street and the New York State Thruway (Interstate 90), NY 5, 8, and 12 is part of the Interstate Highway System as Interstate 790 overlaps all three routes northward over the Mohawk River and the Erie Canal before leaving the arterial at a large interchange on the north bank of the canal. NY 5 turns off as well, following I-790 eastward. Meanwhile, NY 8 and NY 12 interchange with NY 49 (the Utica-Rome Expressway), partially via the I-790 exit ramps, and passes over the Thruway before continuing northward out of the city limits.

NY 8 and NY 12 remain limited-access as they proceed through the northern suburbs of Utica, interchanging with Mulaney Road and Trenton Road in quick succession in Deerfield. Farther north in the town, NY 8 leaves the freeway by way of a trumpet interchange. Although the amount of development around NY 12 declines as it heads northward, it continues as an expressway to a point north of the Putnam Road interchange in Trenton, where the road reverts to a limited-access four-lane highway. This configuration remains through the villages of Barneveld (where NY 28 joins NY 12 south of the village and NY 12 interchanges with NY 365) and Remsen to the vicinity of Alder Creek in the town of Boonville, where NY 28 leaves NY 12 via a partial trumpet interchange and the road narrows to two lanes shortly afterward.

From Alder Creek to Boonville, NY 12 loosely follows the path of the Black River as it heads northwest. Inside Boonville, NY 12D departs NY 12 and begins to follow a northward routing parallel to that of its parent. Together with NY 12D and the Black River, NY 12 passes into the region of New York known as the North Country.

[edit] North Country

The path of NY 12 through New York's North Country consists of three primary subregions: rural Lewis County, urban Watertown, and the numerous communities that line the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River, here the geographical divide between the United States and Canada.

[edit] Lewis County

NY 12, NY 12D, and the Black River continue to follow parallel routings north through the village of Port Leyden to Lyons Falls, where NY 12D returns to NY 12 by way of an intersection just west of the village. NY 12 then passes under NY 12D, which heads north from NY 12 on Cherry Street to access Lyons Falls before heading west over NY 12 and out of the village. NY 12, however, continues on in the vicinity of the Black River to Lowville, where NY 12 briefly overlaps NY 26 and meets NY 812 before leaving both the village and the river to the west.

3 miles (4.8 km) outside of Lowville at West Lowville, NY 12 leaves its due west alignment and curves to the northwest, with the westerly alignment continuing onward as NY 177. From West Lowville to the area surrounding Copenhagen, NY 12 passes through largely undeveloped terrain, save for a pair of isolated roadside communities. This trend ceases, albeit temporary, in the village of Copenhagen, located on the banks of the Deer River at the crossroads of NY 12 and the former NY 194 (now County Routes 55 and 194). Outside the limits, the route resumes its trek through the rural North Country.

[edit] Watertown area

Route 12 enters Jefferson County on its way to Watertown just north of Copenhagen.[3] Route 12 is known as Van Allen Road, crossing with Jefferson county roads in Rutland. At the intersection with County Road 67, Route 12 turns to the north and enters Watertown as Gifford Street. Route 12 intersects with County Road 126 just northeast of Thompson Park and Watertown Golf Club and turns to the northwest. As Route 12 continues through southern parts of Watertown, New York State Route 3 intersects and becomes concurrent. Routes 3 and 12 enter Watertown Public Square and split into divided highways. Here, New York State Route 283 starts to the northeast.[3]

Routes 3 and 12 split, just northwest of the Public Square.[3] Route 3 splits to the west, Route 12 heads to the northwest, and quickly becomes concurrent with U.S. Route 11. The two roads cross a river and split in different directions. Route 12 heads to the northeast, intersecting with a suffixed route, 12E, and passes North Watertown Cemetery before interchanging with Interstate 81 at exit 47. Route 12 leaves Watertown afterwards[3] and heads northeast through rural northwestern Jefferson County. North of Perch Lake in the southeastern corner of the town of Clayton, NY 12 intersects NY 180.

10 miles (16 km) north of NY 180, NY 12 reaches the village of Clayton on the St. Lawrence River. Inside the village, NY 12E completes its lengthy alternate loop of NY 12, terminating at its parent in the village center. NY 12 turns east here, following State Street out of Clayton.

[edit] St. Lawrence River

NY 12 continues northeast along the south bank of the St. Lawrence, intersecting Mason Point Road (a local road leading to a Thousand Islands-bound ferry) and NY 180, and passing south of Grass Point State Park prior to interchanging with I-81 at exit 50 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of the village of Alexandria Bay. Farther northeast, NY 12 passes by Keewaydin State Park before intersecting the northern terminus of NY 26 in the southwestern portion of the village.

Outside of Alexandria Bay, NY 12 temporarily turns east and leaves the riverbank to avoid Goose Bay, a small body of water partially separated from the St. Lawrence by two protruding points of land. The route then curves back toward the water and follows the eastern length of the bay, serving the seaside hamlet of Goose Bay near the bay's midpoint. North of Goose Bay, NY 12 intersects Kring Point Road, an access road leading to Kring Point State Park, and crosses into St. Lawrence County.

NY 12 continues along the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River as it proceeds through the rural western portion of the county. 5 miles (8.0 km) from the county line and 11 miles (18 km) from Alexandria Bay in the town of Hammond, NY 12 intersects County Route 6, a roadway leading east to the village of Hammond and Black Lake. Farther north in Morristown, NY 12 travels through Jacques Cartier State Park before terminating at an interchange with NY 37 just south of the Morristown village limits.

[edit] History

When state highways in New York were first signed in 1924, NY 12 was assigned to its current alignment (excluding areas where it has since been moved onto limited-access highways) between Binghamton and Clayton. The segment of modern NY 12 from Clayton to Alexandria Bay was designated as part of NY 3.[2] In the 1930 renumbering, NY 3 was rerouted onto its current alignment east of Watertown while the former routing of NY 3 from Clayton to Alexandria Bay became part of an extended NY 12.[4] The route was later extended northeast to Morristown over a new roadway along the St. Lawrence River in the late 1960s.[5][6]

Originally, NY 12 was routed on several roadways parallel to its current alignment in Oneida County. Near Utica, NY 12 was originally routed on Paris Road and Genesee Street through downtown Utica and on what is now Trenton Road and County Route 91 between Utica and South Trenton. In Barneveld, NY 12 initially followed Mappa Avenue through the village. Farther north in Remsen, the original routing of NY 12 followed Old State Road and County Route 82.[7] NY 12 was moved onto a new roadway in all four locations by 1967.[8]

[edit] Suffixed routes

NY 12 once had six suffixed routes; one has since been removed and partially renumbered.

[edit] Major intersections

County Location Mile[1] Roads intersected Notes
Broome Chenango Forks 0.00 US 11
0.53 NY 12A Western terminus of NY 12A
Barker 6.40 NY 79 north Southern terminus of overlap
6.63 NY 79 south Northern terminus of overlap
Chenango Village of Greene 14.30 NY 41 south / NY 206 Southern terminus of NY 12/41 overlap
14.76 NY 41 north Northern terminus of overlap
Village of Oxford 27.82 NY 220 west Southern terminus of overlap
28.46 NY 220 east Northern terminus of overlap
City of Norwich 35.73 NY 990L Southern terminus of NY 990L; former eastern terminus of NY 319
36.12 NY 23
Town of Norwich 37.22 NY 320 Western terminus of NY 320
Village of Sherburne 47.38 NY 80
Chenango 48.13 NY 12B Southern terminus of NY 12B
Oneida Sangerfield 66.33 US 20
Waterville 67.62 NY 315 Southern terminus of NY 315
Village of New Hartford 79.89 NY 5 west Southern terminus of overlap
Utica 80.54 NY 8 south
NY 840		 Cloverleaf interchange; southern terminus of NY 8/12 overlap; eastern terminus of NY 840
83.83 I-790
NY 5A / NY 5S (Oriskany Street)		 Eastern terminus of NY 5A; western terminus of NY 5S; southern terminus of I-790; southern terminus of I-790/NY 12 overlap
84.70 I-790 north / NY 5 east
NY 49		 Eastern terminus of NY 49; northern termini of I-790/NY 12 and NY 5/12 overlaps; to I-90 / Thruway
Deerfield 89.82 NY 8 north Northern terminus of overlap
95.96 NY 28 south Southern terminus of overlap
Trenton 97.67 NY 365
Town of Remsen 107.39 NY 28 north Northern terminus of overlap
Village of Boonville NY 12D Southern terminus of NY 12D
Lewis Lyons Falls 124.35 NY 12D Northern terminus of NY 12D
Village of Lowville 137.94 NY 26 south Southern terminus of overlap
138.52 NY 26 north / NY 812 Northern terminus of NY 12/26 overlap; southern terminus of NY 812
Town of Lowville 141.34 NY 177 Eastern terminus of NY 177
Copenhagen 150.94 CR 194 Former eastern terminus of NY 194
Jefferson Town of Watertown 163.57 NY 126 Western terminus of NY 126
Watertown town/city line 163.95 NY 3 east Eastern terminus of overlap
City of Watertown 165.37 US 11 north / NY 3 west Western terminus of NY 3/12 overlap (northbound); eastern terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap (southbound); southern terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap (northbound)
NY 283 (Factory Street) Northbound intersection; western terminus of NY 283
US 11 north (Washington Street) Southbound intersection; western terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap
165.72 US 11 north (Mill Street) Northbound intersection; northern terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap
US 11 south (South Massey Street) / NY 3 west (Arsenal Street) Southbound intersection; western terminus of NY 3/12 overlap; southern terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap
NY 12F (Colleen Street) Southbound intersection; eastern terminus of NY 12F
166.12 US 11 south (Leray Street) Northern terminus of US 11/NY 12 overlap (southbound)
166.35 NY 12E Southern terminus of NY 12E
Pamelia 167.52 I-81 Exit 47 (I-81)
169.64 NY 342
Town of Clayton 175.49 NY 180
187.10 NY 12E Northern terminus of NY 12E
Orleans 192.21 NY 180 Northern terminus of NY 180
194.22 I-81 Exit 50 (I-81)
Alexandria Bay 198.20 NY 26 Northern terminus of NY 26
St. Lawrence Town of Morristown 222.27 NY 37

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Traffic Data Report - US 9 to NY 15 (PDF). NYSDOT (2007-07-16). Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  2. ^ a b "New York's Main Highways Designated by Numbers", New York Times, 1924-12-21, p. XX9. 
  3. ^ a b c d I Love New York. 1977-2007 I love New York state map [map].
  4. ^ Leon A. Dickinson. "New Signs for State Highways", New York Times, 1930-01-12, p. 136. 
  5. ^ Sinclair. New York and Metropolitan New York [map]. Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. (1964)
  6. ^ State of New York Department of Transportation (1970-01-01). Official Description of Touring Routes in New York State. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  7. ^ United States Geological Survey. Utica, NY Quadrangle [map], 1:250,000, Eastern United States 1:250,000. (1948) Retrieved on 2007-12-17.
  8. ^ Gousha. Gousha Road Atlas (western and central New York) [map]. (1967) Retrieved on 2007-12-17.

[edit] External links