Interstate 790

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Interstate 790
Auxiliary route of the Interstate Highway System
Length: 2.4 mi (4 km)
Formed: 1970
South end: Utica
North end: I-90 service roads to Thruway interchange 31
Numbered highways in New York
< NY 787 NY 812 >
Interstates - U.S. Routes - State Routes

Interstate 790 (abbreviated I-790) is a tertiary spur interstate route of Interstate 90. Interstate 790 is an intrastate interstate that is located entirely in the state of New York. I-790 runs for 2.4 miles (3.9 km) roughly north-south. The interstate's sole purpose is to connect I-90 with downtown Utica, New York. The northern terminus of I-790 is at Interstate 90 while the southern terminus is with New York Routes 5, 8, and 12 in downtown Utica. Its northern junction with I-90 is very strange; I-790 almost qualifies as an orphan, but the complex system of I-90 service roads to Thruway tollbooth 31 seems to be barely freeway standard.

Originally built as a two-lane road from I-90 Exit 31 to its intersection with Routes 5, 8 and 12, in the late 1980s it was rebuilt as a freeway that straddles I-90. However, to accomplish this, the direct connection from I-90 to I-790 was eliminated, necessitating the use of surface streets and passing through traffic lights for traffic to reach I-790. This approach has created some traffic congestion that continues to grow with the expansion of industry in the area, including a busy Wal*Mart distribution center in the Town of Marcy.

I-790 is signed as an east-west route in the few places where its signs exist. It runs concurrently with New York Route 5 along its entire length and follows Routes 8 and 12 as well for the first mile. Its western/southern terminus is with New York Routes 5A and 5S.

The north-south portion of I-790 between NY 5A/NY 5S and the Thruway service roads is named the North-South Arterial.

[edit] Legal Definition

The route of I-790 is defined as Interstate Route Connection 560 in New York Highway Law ยง 340-a.

[edit] Major cities

Auxiliary routes of Interstate 90
Current and Future (F) Former
I-190 Illinois - Massachusetts - New York - South Dakota
I-290 Illinois - Massachusetts - New York Ohio
I-390 New York
I-490 New York - Ohio
I-590 New York
I-690 New York
I-790 New York
I-890 New York
I-990 New York


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