New York State Route 4

New York State Route 4 is a major north–south state highway extending for nearly 200 miles across the eastern portion of Upstate New York. It connects the Southern Tier region near the Pennsylvania border to the Adirondack Mountains and the shores of Lake Champlain. The route serves as a vital corridor through numerous cities and rural communities, linking key transportation networks including the Southern Tier Expressway, Interstate 88, and the New York State Thruway.

Route description

Beginning at the Pennsylvania state line in Waverly, the highway proceeds northward through the Susquehanna River valley, passing through Apalachin and intersecting the Southern Tier Expressway. It continues into the Binghamton metropolitan area, where it shares a concurrency with US 11 and provides access to Interstate 88 and NY 7. North of Binghamton, the route traverses the rural landscapes of Chenango County and Madison County, serving communities like Norwich and Hamilton. It then enters the Mohawk Valley region, passing near Utica and Rome before crossing the Adirondack Park boundary. The final segment winds through the southeastern Adirondack Mountains, passing Great Sacandaga Lake and terminating at an intersection with US 9 in the village of Whitehall on the Champlain Canal.

History

The corridor was originally part of several turnpikes in the 19th century, including a segment of the historic Cherry Valley Turnpike. It was first designated as part of NY 2 in 1924, a route that stretched from the New Jersey state line to the Canadian border at Rouses Point. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways, the majority of this north–south corridor was reassigned to its current designation, while the old NY 2 number was moved to a more easterly alignment. Significant realignments occurred in the mid-20th century, particularly in the Binghamton area and around Schenectady, where it was moved onto the new I-890 arterial. The route's path through the Adirondack Park has remained largely unchanged, preserving its role as a scenic byway.

Major intersections

From south to north, key junctions include the Pennsylvania state line at Waverly, an interchange with NY 17 (Southern Tier Expressway) in Apalachin, and a junction with NY 17C in Owego. In Binghamton, it intersects US 11, I-88, and NY 7. Farther north, it meets NY 12 in Norwich and NY 5 in Schenectady. The route also has interchanges with I-890 in Schenectady and NY 146 in Waterford. Its northern terminus is at US 9 in Whitehall. Category:New York (state) highways