Interstate 590 New York

History

Southern Terminus

Northern Terminus

Routing

Interstate 590 in New York is a short freeway linking Interstate 490 and Interstate 390. The freeway straddles the southeastern border of the city of Rochester and serves the town of Brighton. Interstate 590 is part of Rochester's Outer Loop, which was formerly signed as New York 47. Interstate 590 continues as New York 590 from Interstate 490 north to Irondequoit and as an expressway from Interstate 590 to New York 104. The northern terminus of Interstate 590 is at the locally famous "Can of Worms" interchange.

History

Interstate 590 originally encompassed all of the Interstate highway portion of the Outer Loop Freeway between the current north ends of Interstate 390 and 590. The designation replaced New York 47 in its entirely south of Interstate 490. During the same time frame, Interstate 390 existed on maps as the planned Genesee Expressway. The unconstructed highway was to continue Interstate 390 north of the Outer Loop into south Rochester and Downtown near the New York 15 (South Avenue) interchange with Interstate 490. In fact, ramps for the north end of the Genesse Expressway were built before the freeway was dropped from planning. Community opposition and high costs defeated the Genesse Expressway proposal. Therefore in an effort to bring Interstate 390 to an end at Interstate 490, Interstate 590 was shortened to encompass only the southeastern leg of the Outer Loop, and Interstate 390 was extended northwest over the southwestern quadrant of the Outer Loop to Interstate 490 near Rochester International Airport.

Highway Guides

• Interstate 590

	Southern Terminus - Interstate 390 - south of Brighton, New York Perspective from Interstate 590 south Interstate 590 southbound enters its final mile at the Exit 1 diamond interchange with Winton Road. A small "Junction Interstate 390" shield advises motorists of the impending tri-level stack interchange. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 590 southbound transitions into Interstate 390 northbound as the continuation of the Outer Loop Freeway. Interstate 390 continues the loop northwest to Rochester International Airport and the western suburb of Greece (via New York 390 north). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 590 comes to an end at a tri-level stack interchange with Interstate 390. Pictured is the last sign bridge of the Interstate, with southbound Interstate 390 traffic ascending over the Outer Loop Freeway via the highest flyover ramp. Interstate 390 continues south to Henrietta, junction Interstate 90 (New York Thruway), Dansville, and junction Interstate 86 west of Corning. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). A look at the Interstate 590 & 390 stack interchange from the freeway southbound. Interstate 390 originally was slated to continue northward into downtown Rochester as the Genesee Expressway. That proposal never came to fruition and no ramp connections were ever built for the unbuilt freeway. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). This end shield of Interstate 590 was the only found that still included the state name of New York. The shield was posted past the stacked flyovers as Interstate 590 prepares to merge with Interstate 390 northbound. The next two interchanges of the freeway (Exits 16 and 16A) serve southern neighborhoods of the city and the University of Rochester. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/28/00). The End shield pictured above was replaced with a neutered shield in the same location as the original sign. The diamond interchange (Exit 16) with New York 15A (Henrietta Road) lies just one half mile ahead. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Perspective from Interstate 390 south Attached to the New York 15A (Henrietta Road) overpass is the first overhead for the Exit 15 split with Interstate 590 north on Interstate 390 south. Interstate 390 crosses the Erie Canal and meets Interstate 590 adjacent to Brighton Town Park at south Rochester. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 390 departs the Rochester Outer Loop as Interstate 590 begins. Interstate 390 serves the southern suburbs of Rochester such as Henrietta before heading toward the Southern Tier of New York and the control city of Corning. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). The second Exit 15 sign bridge posted at the Interstate 390 and 590 split. Interstate 590 continues the Outer Loop east around Brighton to the southeast of downtown Rochester, providing access to the eastern suburbs such as East Rochester, Penfield, and Pittsfield. Interstate 390 crosses the New York Thruway/Interstate 90 four miles to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). The northbound beginning of Interstate 590 as it prepares to cross underneath the Interstate 390 tri-level stack interchange. The first interchange of the freeway serves Winton Road (Exit 1) within two miles. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Perspective from Interstate 390 north Interstate 390 northbound at the Brighton Henrietta Town Line Road overpass, 0.75 miles south of the split with Interstate 590 and the Outer Loop Freeway. Interstate 590 continues the Outer Loop freeway northeast to Brighton and east Rochester. Interstate 390 follows the Outer Loop Freeway northwest to Rochester International Airport, west Rochester, and Greece. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Nearing the partition of Exit 15 and the northbound beginning of Interstate 590. Interstate 390 passes over the Erie Canal ahead of its entrance onto the Outer Loop Freeway. Traffic to downtown Rochester is directed onto Interstate 590 north to Interstate 490 west. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Northbound Interstate 390 at the entrance to the Rochester Outer Loop and southern terminus of Interstate 590/Exit 15. Although Interstate 390 was to have continued northward into downtown itself, both Interstates in conjunction with Interstate 490 serve the downtown traffic interests adequately. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Northern Terminus - Interstate 490 - north of Brighton, New York Perspective from Interstate 590 north The first overhead posted for Interstate 490 (Exit 5) resides at the Elmwood Avenue half-diamond interchange. Interstate 590 next intersects Highland Avenue at the Exit 4 half-diamond interchange ahead of the transition to New York 590 (Sea Breeze Expressway) northbound. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Three northbound lanes of Interstate 590 as they approach the northern terminus with Interstate 490, the Eastern Expressway. The original "Can of Worms" interchange configuration saw a pair of adjacent tri-level stack interchanges at Interstate 490. This setup resulted in a short overlap on Interstate 490 for Interstate 590 to New York 590 (or vice versa) traffic movements. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Interstate 590 transitions to New York 590 as Exit 5 traffic for Interstate 490 departs from the right. The "Can of Worms" interchange construction project, occurring in the early 1990s, allows a seamless freeway between Interstate and New York 590. The Sea Breeze Expressway continues New York 590 north to junction New York 104 (Ridge Road), the Seabreeze Amusement Park, and the community of Irondequoit. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). High flyovers shuttle drivers from Interstate 590 northbound to Interstate 490 (Eastern Expressway). Interstate 490 travels west from Exit 5 into downtown Rochester. Eastbound enters the suburbs of East Rochester, Pittsford, and ultimately Victor. Photos taken by Alex Nitzman (05/09/05). Perspective from New York 590 south New York 590 (Sea Breeze Expressway) southbound at the Exit 6 diamond interchange with Blossom Road. The Sea Breeze Expressway meets Interstate 490 one half mile south at the "Can of Worms" multi-level interchange. Blossom Road travels east-west between University Avenue and New York 286 (Browncroft Boulevard). Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Another benefit of the "Can of Worms" interchange construction project is that all exiting traffic exits their respective freeway at once. Therefore, merging traffic concerns are minimized. This photograph shows the lane allocation for Interstate 490 bound motorists from New York 590 southbound. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 590 begins its southward progression as Exit 5 departs for Interstate 490 to the left. The eastbound control point of Victor is a town located some thirteen miles near the eastern terminus with Interstate 90. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Continuing on the Exit 5 ramp from New York 590 southbound. The partition for Interstate 490 occurs high above grade level. The interchange itself is complicated and includes these high flyovers because of the crossing of New York 96/East Avenue over Interstate 490 below. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). The first southbound Interstate 590 shield lies within the "Can of Worms" interchange. In addition to the crossing above of New York 96 (East Avenue), the New York Central Railroad also passes through the Interstate 490 & 590 junction. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Perspective from Interstate 490 east Interstate 490 depresses below grade through east Rochester on the drive to Exit 20 (Winton Road) and Exit 21 (Interstate 590 & New York 590). The six-lane freeway continues through the residential areas of Rochester to the "Can of Worms" interchange one mile east of the Culver Road overpass. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 490 eastbound reduces from four to three lanes at Exit 21. This guide sign includes no control points as it shows the lane allocation for Interstate and New York 590. Upon the completion of the "Can of Worms" interchange project, these signs became a necessity. A half-diamond interchange links Winton Road with Interstate 490 0.25 miles west of junction Interstate 590. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Interstate 490 eastbound at Exit 21, the joint termini of Interstate 590 (Sea Breeze Expressway) north and New York 590 (Outer Loop Freeway) south. Interstate 490 continues to East Rochester and Pittsford as Interstate 590 serves Brighton to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). The partitioning of the Exit 21 ramps for New York 590 north and Interstate 590 south. New York 590 interchanges with Blossom Road (Exit 6) just north of Interstate 490. Interstate 590 meanwhile meets Elwood Avenue (Exit 4) one mile to the south. Photo taken by Alex Nitzman (05/10/05). Perspective from Interstate 490 west As New York 441 travels overhead, the one-half mile guide sign for Exit 21 on Interstate 490 westbound. Interstate 490 is a depressed freeway throughout east Rochester. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07). Directional guide signage on Interstate 490 westbound at the Penfield Road overpass. All traffic movements of the "Can of Worms" interchange depart from the right, with the exception of the southbound New York 590 ramps to Interstate 490. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07). Interstate 590 and New York 590 traffic depart to the right as Interstate 490 enters the city of Rochester. The city of 219,773 is situated within Monroe County (pop. 735,353), and is home to the corporations of Kodak and Xerox among others, aiding the economic outlook of the city. Unfortunately for New York Thruway based traffic, Rochester is omitted now on all guide signage in favor of Albany or economically repressed Buffalo. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (09/28/02). Morning sunshine highlights the guide signs at the ramp partition for Interstate 590 south and New York 590 northbound via Interstate 490 west. Adding to the complexity of the "Can of Worms" interchange is a railroad line straddling the north side of Interstate 490 (visible in this photograph). Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (12/12/01).

Page Updated August 14, 2007.