New York State Route 28

New York State Route 28 is a major north–south state highway extending for 281.69 miles (453.34 km) through the Catskill Mountains and Adirondack Mountains regions of New York. It connects the Hudson Valley city of Kingston with the Adirondack Park hamlet of Blue Mountain Lake, serving as a vital corridor for tourism, commerce, and transportation in central Upstate New York. The route passes through diverse landscapes, including the Ashokan Reservoir, the Pepacton Reservoir, and numerous state forests, linking communities like Oneonta, Cooperstown, and Old Forge.

Route description

Beginning at a junction with NY 32 and NY 212 in downtown Kingston, the route heads northwest, quickly crossing the Rondout Creek and skirting the northern shore of the Ashokan Reservoir, a key component of the New York City water supply system. It continues through the Catskill Park, passing the Belleayre Mountain ski center before descending into the Delaware River watershed near Arkville. The highway then follows the valley of the East Branch Delaware River, running alongside the Pepacton Reservoir and through the villages of Margaretville and Delhi. North of Oneonta, it intersects with Interstate 88 and passes the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown via a concurrency with NY 80. The route traverses the southern foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, passing through Middleville and Herkimer before entering the Adirondack Park near Thendara. Its final segment runs through the Fulton Chain of Lakes region, serving Old Forge and Raquette Lake before terminating at NY 30 in Blue Mountain Lake.

History

The origins of the route lie in early 20th-century auto trails, including the Catskill Mountain Branch of the New York–Albany–Montreal Trail. It was assigned as part of the 1924 New York state highway renumbering, initially running from Kingston to Utica. Major realignments occurred with the construction of the Ashokan Reservoir in the 1910s, which required relocating the road to its present northern shore path. The route was extended north to Blue Mountain Lake in the 1930s, absorbing segments of former NY 10 and NY 365. Significant modernization projects took place in the mid-20th century, including the construction of a bypass around Oneonta and improvements through the Moose River Plains. The designation has remained largely consistent since, though its role has evolved from a primary trucking route to a key scenic and recreational corridor, especially after the completion of Interstate 88 provided a faster alternative for through traffic.

Major intersections

From south to north, key junctions include the southern terminus at NY 32/NY 212 in Kingston; an intersection with NY 375 near the Ashokan Reservoir; a junction with NY 42 in Shandaken; a concurrency with NY 30 through Margaretville; an intersection with NY 10 in Delhi; a complex interchange with Interstate 88 and NY 7 south of Oneonta; a concurrency with NY 80 past Cooperstown and the Glimmerglass State Park; junctions with NY 5 and NY 5S in Herkimer; an intersection with NY 365 in Barneveld; a junction with NY 12 in Alder Creek; and the northern terminus at NY 30 in Blue Mountain Lake, adjacent to the Adirondack Museum.

Category:State highways in New York (state)