New York State Route 103

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NY Route 103

Length:

0.50 mi^[1] (0.8 km)

South end:

NY 5S in Rotterdam Junction

North end:

NY 5 in Rotterdam

Counties:

Schenectady

Numbered highways in New York
< NY 102		NY 104 >
Interstates - U.S. Routes - State Routes

New York State Route 103 is a very short state highway in New York, running from the hamlet of Rotterdam Junction across the Mohawk River/Erie Canal at Lock 9 to the town of Rotterdam.

1 Route description
2 Major intersections
3 Miscellanea
- 3.1 Shunpiking and Route 103
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Route description

Communities
Rotterdam Junction Erie Canal at Lock 9 Town of Rotterdam

At just one-half mile, NY 103 is one of the shortest state highways in New York. One-third of the route is the bridge over Lock 9 of the Erie Canal. Nearly perfectly straight, NY 103 begins at a Y intersection with NY 5S in the hamlet of Rotterdam Junction, heading northeasterly. After a slight bend to the left, NY 103 crosses over the lock, passing by access to a fishing and recreation area, before ending at a traffic signal for NY 5.

[edit] Major intersections

County	Location	Mile	Road(s)	Notes
Schenectady	Rotterdam Junction	0.0	NY 5S
Schenectady	Town of Rotterdam	0.5	NY 5

Legend
Crossing, no access	Concurrency termini	Decommissioned	Unconstructed	Closed

[edit] Miscellanea

[edit] Shunpiking and Route 103

Until the creation of NY 890, NY 103 was a key link for shunpiking the nearby Thruway, as it carried traffic from Amsterdam and other points west across the Mohawk via NY 5S to I-890 and Schenectady, avoiding Scotia.

When I-890 was created, there had been a plan to extend it across the river to NY 5. A couple of unused overpasses were built and ramp routes were built up but unpaved. At that point, NY 5S ended with traffic entering directly onto I-890, and vice versa.

To avoid or reduce Thruway tolls, motorists from communities such as Amsterdam, Johnstown and Gloversville often would use NY 5 with its four-lane route. NY 5S could be used, but it had a lower speed limit in Pattersonville as well as trucks entering at a stony quarry along the way. Besides, it was just a two-lane route. At 103, there was an option: Continue on NY 5, drive the village streets of Scotia or use NY 103 to cut to 5S and I-890. As a result, from Rotterdam Junction to I-890, there was often a high volume of traffic for the two-lane road.

Adding a complication was that the bridge on NY 103 had a steel deck, which was slippery when wet and always a danger to motorcycles. Such a deck also reduced the weight limit of the bridge. One might actually be stopped on the bridge, as there is no traffic signal at NY 5S.

With the completion of the NY 890 bridge over the Mohawk River, NY 103 ceased to have the same importance as before. It was temporarily closed, and the bridge was reconstructed to have its current concrete deck. Today, NY 103 remains and is the only access to Lock 9 of the Erie Canal, with its picnic and fishing area.