Hutchinson River Parkway

Hutchinson River Parkway
Map of southeastern New York with Hutchinson River Parkway highlighted in red
Route information
Length:	18.78 mi[1] (30.22 km)
Existed:	1928[2] – present
Major junctions
South end:	I-95 / I-278 / I-295 / I-678 in Throggs Neck
	I-95 in Baychester I-95 in Eastchester Cross County Parkway in Mount Vernon I-287 in Harrison
North end:	Route 15 / Merritt Parkway in Greenwich, CT
Location
Counties:	Bronx, Westchester
Highway system
Numbered highways in New York Interstate U.S. N.Y. (former) Reference County ← NY 1B US 2 →

The Hutchinson River Parkway (also known as The Hutch^{[citation needed]}) is a north–south parkway in southern New York in the United States. It extends for 18.78 miles (30.22 km) from the massive Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx to the New York–Connecticut state line at Rye Brook. The parkway continues south from the Bruckner Interchange as the Whitestone Expressway (Interstate 678 or I-678) and north into Greenwich, Connecticut, as the Merritt Parkway. The roadway is named for English-born American religious leader Anne Hutchinson.

The road is designated as NY 908A within the Bronx and NY 907W within Westchester County. Both designations are unsigned reference routes. Like the Bronx River Parkway, the reference route designation of the parkway in Westchester County violates the numbering scheme used by the New York State Department of Transportation.^{[citation needed]} The second digit of a reference route designation typically indicates its region. While other reference routes in the county carry a second digit of "8", as Westchester County is located in region 8, the "0" in 907W is indicative of regions 10 and 11, containing Long Island and New York City, respectively.^{[citation needed]}

Construction of the parkway began in 1924 and was completed in 1941. The portion of the parkway between Eastern Boulevard (now Bruckner Boulevard) in the Bronx and U.S. Route 1 (US 1) in Pelham Manor was designated as New York State Route 1X (NY 1X) from 1941 to 1946. NY 1A was subsequently realigned to follow the Hutch between Eastern Boulevard and US 1. The NY 1A designation was removed c. 1962.^{[citation needed]}

Route description

Throggs Neck to Pelham

Northbound on the Hutchinson River Parkway in Pelham. Signage is present off the shoulder denoting Anne Hutchinson

The Hutchinson River Parkway begins at the large Bruckner Interchange in the Throggs Neck section of the Bronx. This interchange consists of junctions with I-95 (the Cross Bronx Expressway), I-295 (Cross Bronx Expressway Extension), I-678 (the Whitestone Expressway) and I-278 (the Bruckner Expressway). The Hutchinson River Parkway proceeds north as a continuation of I-678, entering exit 1, a small 1-lane ramp to Bruckner Boulevard near Saint Raymond's Cemetery. Just to the north of exit 1, gas stations appear on each side of the road, which turns northeast and into exit 2, a connection to East Tremont Avenue. After exit 2, the parkway crosses under the Middletown Road subway station, crossing into the Pelham Bay section of the Bronx.^[3]

Just after crossing into Pelham Bay, the parkway enters exit 3E–W, an interchange with the Pelham Parkway in a small section of Pelham Bay Park. After crossing under Amtrak's Northeast Corridor, the parkway crosses out of Pelham Bay Park and into exit 4S–N, a junction with I-95 and the New England Thruway. Crossing over Bartow Avenue and the Hutchinson River, the parkway crosses into the main section of Pelham Bay Park, where exit 5 forks off towards the center of the park. The now six-lane parkway crosses north through Pelham Bay Park, entering exit 6, another junction with the New England Thruway. When the Hutchinson River Parkway leaves Pelham Bay Park, the right-of-way leaves the Bronx and enters Westchester County.^[3] Now in the village of Pelham Manor, the parkway enters exit 7, an interchange with US 1 (Boston Post Road). Southbound, an exit 8 is present, a ramp to Sandford Boulevard in Pelham Manor. Proceeding northbound, exit 9 connects to Colonial Avenue, the continuation of Sandford Boulevard after the Hutchinson River Parkway in the adjacent village of Pelham. The parkway winds north through Pelham, entering exit 10 on the southbound lanes, a connection to East 3rd Street. Winding northeast, the parkway crosses under the Metro-North Railroad New Haven Line just west of Pelham station. Just after the line, the Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into exit 12, a bi-directional junction with Lincoln Avenue in Pelham.^[3] However, as seen in a 1942 photo, showing the removal of the viaduct of the New York, Westchester and Boston Railway, Lincoln Avenue's southbound and northbound exits shared the current northbound ramp, which was a T-intersection without acceleration or deceleration lanes.

Mount Vernon to Connecticut

Soon the parkway leaves Pelham for Mount Vernon, entering the Chester Heights section. In Mount Vernon, the Hutchinson River Parkway enters exit 13, a connection to the Cross County Parkway. The parkway winds northeast into exit 14, a junction with New Rochelle Road, bending northwest through Nature Study Woods Park. The parkway then bends north into New Rochelle. Just after crossing into New Rochelle, the Cross County Parkway merges into the northbound lanes. Crossing through Twin Lakes Park, the parkway enters exit 16, a junction with the northern end of Webster Avenue. Passing around Reservoir No. 3, the Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into Eastchester and soon back into New Rochelle near exit 18, which connects to North Avenue.^[3]

The Hutchinson River Parkway northbound approaching exit 26W, the Cross Westchester Expressway in Harrison. Signage for the upcoming junction of I-684 is present

To the north, exit 18E and exit 18W going southbound junction with Mill Road in Eastchester, the continuation of North Avenue. After exits 18E and 18W, the parkway passes east of Reservoir No. 1 and south of exit 19, Wilmot Road. The Hutchinson River Parkway proceeds northeast as a four-lane arterial through New Rochelle. The parkway crosses under NY 125 (Weaver Street), which is accessible southbound via exit 20. Proceeding northbound, exit 21 services Hutchinson Avenue, which connected to NY 125 and Quaker Ridge Country Club. Now in the Quaker Ridge section of Scarsdale. The Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into exit 22, Mamaroneck Avenue near Saxon Woods County Park. The parkway runs along the southern end of the park, entering exit 23S–N in the center of the park.^[3]

Exit 23S–N services another Mamaroneck Avenue as it crosses over the West Branch of the Mamaroneck River. Leaving the park, the Hutchinson River Parkway enters White Plains, crossing past a median rest area. The parkway continues northeast, entering exit 25, a diamond interchange with NY 127 (North Street) in Harrison. Passing Maple Moor Golf Course, the Hutchinson River Parkway enters exit 26E–W, a cloverleaf interchange with I-287 (the Cross Westchester Expressway). Just to the north of the interchange, I-684 forks to the northwest in Harrison. Just northeast of I-684, exit 27 forks to NY 120 (Purchase Street).^[3]

After exit 27, the parkway makes a bend to the southeast, entering exit 28, a junction with Lincoln Avenue in Harrison. The four-lane parkway winds northeast once again, entering exit 29, a junction with North Ridge Street in Rye Brook. The Hutchinson River Parkway enters exit 30S, a connection with NY 120A (King Street). Southbound, this interchange is designated of exit 27S, a continuation of the numbering from the Merritt Parkway. At this interchange, the Hutchinson River Parkway crosses into the state of Connecticut and continues northeast as the Merritt Parkway (CT 15).^[3]

History

Construction of the parkway began in 1924 and the first two-mile (3 km) section was completed in December 1927. By October 1928, 11 miles (18 km) of the parkway were open, connecting US 1 in Pelham Manor with Westchester Avenue in White Plains. The original roadway was an undivided, limited-access parkway, designed with gently sloping curves, stone arch bridges, and wooden lightposts. The original 11-mile (18 km) section included bridle paths along the right-of-way. There was also a riding academy where the public could rent horses.^[2]

In 1936, Robert Moses decided to build more parkways in the Bronx and Westchester County. A northward extension of the Hutchinson River Parkway from White Plains to King Street (modern NY 120A) in Rye Brook on the Connecticut state line was completed in 1937 and a southward extension from Pelham Manor to Pelham Bay Park opened in December 1937.^[4] The new southerly extension became part of a rerouted NY 1A.^[5][6][7] The final segment of the parkway—a southward extension to the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge—was completed in 1941 and initially designated NY 1X. The NY 1X designation was removed in 1946^[4] and replaced with a realigned NY 1A,^[8] which had previously followed Bruckner Boulevard and Shore Road between what is now the Bruckner Interchange and exit 5 on the Hutch.^[9] The NY 1A designation was completely removed c. 1962.^[10][11]

Originally, the parkway was built and designated all the way to the Bronx–Whitestone Bridge. However, the original parkway designs did not allow for commercial traffic. When the bridge was designated I-678, the section between the Bruckner Interchange and the Bronx Whitestone Bridge had to be converted to Interstate Highway standards. Once that was completed, that section was assigned the I-678 designation and renamed part of the Whitestone Expressway.^{[citation needed]} Modifications in 1984 included straightening of some curves, increased sight distances, removal of the rustic lightposts, and lengthening of acceleration and deceleration lanes.^[2] Originally, there was a 25¢ toll located in Pelham between exits 7 and 8. The toll was removed on October 31, 1994, with the last tour just before midnight. The tolls were demolished on the Saw Mill River and Hutchinson River parkways in November 1994.^[12]

The claim has been made, most notably in Robert Caro's biography, The Power Broker, that Moses deliberately designed the parkways to have low bridges to prevent low-income families from traveling by bus to destinations outside of New York City.^[13]

Exit list

County	Location	Mile[1]	km	Exit	Destinations	Notes
Bronx	The Bronx	0.00	0.00		I-678 south – Whitestone Bridge	Continuation beyond the Bruckner Interchange
		0.00	0.00	1	I-95 (Cross Bronx Expressway) / I-278 (Bruckner Expressway) via Bruckner Boulevard	Bruckner Interchange; northbound exit signed as Bruckner Boulevard west
				2	East Tremont Avenue / Westchester Avenue
		1.93	3.11	3	Pelham Parkway	Signed as 3E (east) and 3W (west)
		2.36	3.80	4S	I-95 south (New England Thruway) – George Washington Bridge	Southbound exit only
				4N	I-95 north (New England Thruway) – New Haven	Southbound exit only; access via Baychester Avenue
		3.35	5.39	5	Orchard Beach Road – City Island
		4.29	6.90	6	I-95 north (New England Thruway)	Northbound exit only
Westchester	Pelham Manor	4.74	7.63	7	US 1 (Boston Post Road)
				8	Sandford Boulevard	Southbound exit and entrance
	Village of Pelham	5.47	8.80	9	Wolfs Lane	Northbound exit and entrance
				10	East Third Street	Southbound exit only
	Pelham–Mount Vernon village/city line	6.39	10.28	12	East Lincoln Avenue – Mount Vernon, Pelham
		6.77	10.90	13	Cross County Parkway	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		7.21	11.60	14	Pelhamdale Avenue / New Rochelle Road
	Eastchester			15	Cross County Parkway	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	New Rochelle			16	Webster Avenue	No southbound exit
		9.21	14.82	17	North Avenue	Northbound exit and entrance
				18	Mill Road	Southbound exit and entrance
				19	Wilmot Road	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
	New Rochelle–Scarsdale city/village line	11.23	18.07	20	NY 125 (Weaver Street)	Southbound exit and entrance
		11.23	18.07	21	NY 125 (Weaver Street)	Northbound exit and entrance
	Scarsdale	12.25	19.71	22	Mamaroneck Road
	White Plains–Harrison city/village line	13.19	21.23	23	Mamaroneck Avenue	Signed as 23S (south) and 23N (north)
		14.77	23.77	25	NY 127 (North Street)
	Harrison	15.89	25.57	26	I-287 (Cross-Westchester Expressway)	Signed as 26E (east) and 26W (west)
		16.19	26.06		I-684 north	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
		16.60	26.72	27	NY 120 (Purchase Street)
		17.43	28.05	28	Lincoln Avenue
	Rye Brook	18.15	29.21	29	North Ridge Street
		18.72	30.13	30S	NY 120A (King Street)	Signed as exit 27S on southbound parkway
		18.78	30.22		Route 15 / Merritt Pkwy.	Continuation into Connecticut
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

• New York Roads portal

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hutchinson River Parkway.

• Hutchinson River Parkway at Alps' Roads • New York State Highway Termini