Interstate 790

Interstate 790 is a short auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within Oneida County, New York, connecting the city of Utica with the New York State Thruway. The highway serves as a critical commercial and commuter link between Downtown Utica and the primary national highway network. Its entire length is concurrent with NY 5A, and it provides direct access to major state routes including NY 8 and NY 12.

Route description

The highway begins at a complex interchange in Downtown Utica known as Auditorium Circle, where it connects with NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12. From this western terminus, it heads east as a four-lane divided arterial, crossing the Mohawk River via the North–South Arterial Highway. It passes just north of the Utica Zoo and the grounds of the Utica Psychiatric Center. The route then curves northeast, passing through light industrial and commercial areas before culminating at a directional trumpet interchange with the New York State Thruway (I-90) in the town of Deerfield. Throughout its journey, the highway provides views of the Adirondack Mountains to the north and traverses terrain typical of the Mohawk Valley.

History

The corridor was originally planned in the late 1950s as part of a broader effort to modernize transportation infrastructure in the Mohawk Valley and alleviate traffic congestion in Utica. Construction began in the early 1960s, with the highway opening to traffic in stages. The final segment, including the pivotal interchange with the New York State Thruway, was completed and designated as part of the Interstate Highway System in 1968. The construction required significant engineering work, including the building of the North–South Arterial Highway bridge over the Mohawk River and the reconfiguration of several local streets. The highway's designation was part of a statewide agreement between the New York State Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.

Exit list

The entire route is in Oneida County. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Location ! mi ! km ! Exit ! Destinations ! Notes |- | Utica | 0.00 | 0.00 | – | NY 5A west / NY 8 / NY 12 – Downtown Utica, Utica Memorial Auditorium | Western terminus; road continues as NY 5A (Oriskany Street) |- | Utica | 0.4 | 0.64 | – | NY 5A east (Oriskany Boulevard) / NY 920V (Burrstone Road) – Utica College, St. Luke's Hospital | NY 5A concurrency begins |- | Deerfield | 1.39 | 2.24 | – | I-90 / New York State Thruway – Albany, Syracuse, Buffalo | Eastern terminus; trumpet interchange; NY 5A concurrency ends; New York State Thruway exit 31 |}

See also

* Interstate 90 in New York * New York State Route 5A * New York State Route 8 * New York State Route 12 * New York State Thruway * List of Interstate Highways in New York

References

Category:Interstate Highways in New York Category:Transportation in Oneida County, New York Category:Utica, New York