I-295 (New York)

I-295 (New York) is a 9.40-mile (15.13 km) auxiliary Interstate Highway in New York City, providing a critical bypass route for through traffic around the congested Queens and Brooklyn sections of I-95. The highway, officially designated the Clearview Expressway along its entire length, connects the Staten Island Expressway (I-278) and the Goethals Bridge approach on Staten Island with the Long Island Expressway (I-495) and the Whitestone Expressway (I-678) in Queens. It serves as a vital link in the regional transportation network, facilitating movement between New Jersey, Long Island, and the New England states.

Route description

Traveling north from its southern terminus at a complex interchange with I-95, NY 440, and NY 454 in the Travis neighborhood, I-295 crosses the Arthur Kill via the Goethals Bridge into Elizabeth, New Jersey. It briefly runs concurrent with I-278 and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) before diverging northeast to cross the Kill Van Kull on the Bayonne Bridge back into New York City. Upon re-entering Staten Island, the highway traverses the Port Richmond area before ascending onto the Fresh Kills bridge. It then crosses the Arthur Kill again on the Outerbridge Crossing approach, though the highway itself turns north to become the Clearview Expressway, a controlled-access parkway. The Clearview section passes through residential areas of Queens, including Bayside, offering connections to local streets like Cross Island Parkway and Union Turnpike, before terminating at a major interchange with I-695, I-278, I-495, and NY 25A in Whitestone.

History

The route's origins lie in the early 20th-century parkway plans of Robert Moses, with the Clearview Expressway section conceived as a connection from the Throgs Neck Bridge to central Queens. Construction on the Clearview segment began in the late 1950s, with the first section opening to traffic in 1963. The designation of I-295 was applied as part of the Interstate Highway System to create a continuous bypass route linking the Goethals Bridge, Bayonne Bridge, and Outerbridge Crossing with the Long Island Expressway. Significant projects have included the replacement of the original Goethals Bridge, a project undertaken by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and ongoing modernization efforts along the Clearview corridor. The highway's role was solidified with the completion of the I-278 interchange in Whitestone, integrating it into the city's expressway network.

Exit list

The exit list for I-295 begins in Travis at the triplex interchange with I-95 and NY 440 (exit 1). In New Jersey, it shares exits with I-278 and the New Jersey Turnpike before the designated exit for the Bayonne Bridge (exit 12). Upon returning to Staten Island, key exits serve Forest Avenue (exit 13) and Bradley Avenue (exit 14). The Clearview Expressway segment in Queens features exits for Cross Island Parkway (exit 20), Union Turnpike (exit 22), and Northern Boulevard (exit 24), culminating at the northern terminus interchange (exit 26) with I-695, I-278, and I-495.

Major intersections

The southern terminus is a major multi-level interchange with I-95, NY 440, and NY 454 near the Goethals Bridge. A critical junction occurs in New Jersey where I-295 merges with I-278 and the New Jersey Turnpike (I-95). The route intersects with NY 440 again on Staten Island near the Bayonne Bridge. In Queens, it has a major interchange with the Cross Island Parkway and provides access to Grand Central Parkway via connecting routes. The northern terminus is the massive interchange complex in Whitestone with I-695 (the unsigned Throgs Neck Expressway), I-278 (the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway), I-495 (the Long Island Expressway), and NY 25A.

Auxiliary routes

I-295 has no signed auxiliary routes (such as business loops or spurs) designated with three-digit numbers within New York State. However, it functions as a critical connector between several major auxiliary routes of the Interstate Highway System in the region. These include I-278 (which provides access to Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx), I-678 (the Van Wyck Expressway), and I-695. Its path also facilitates access to other key arteries like the Staten Island Expressway, the Garden State Parkway in New Jersey, and the New England Thruway (I-95).

Category:Interstate Highways in New York (state) Category:Transportation in Queens Category:Transportation in Staten Island