Interstate 790 New York

Interstate 790 New York

Overview

Interstate 790 forms an L-shaped route between Downtown Utica and the New York Thruway (I-90) at Exit 31. The northern leg constitutes separate roadways running adjacent to I-90 from LeLand Avenue (NY 5) west to the NY 8/12 expressway along Horatio Street. A trumpet interchange connects this section of I-790 with the Thruway. It also doubles as NY 5, which dog legs south from Herkimer Road via LeLand Avenue.

The western branch of Interstate 790 accompanies NY 5-8-12 south from a directional cloverleaf interchange joining Horatio Street with NY 49. NY 49 extends the expressway west from I-790 to Rome while I-790 crosses the Erie Canal and Mohawk River into central Utica. Interstate 790 extends south to the Court Street off-ramp west of Downtown. NY 5-8-12 continue from that exchange along the North South Arterial Highway to New Hartford.

North-South Arterial

The $66.5 million North-South Arterial Project replaced the elevated section of NY 5, NY 8 and NY 12 through Utica. The largest project completed by the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) in the city of Utica extended the viaduct southward across Court Street, replacing a signalized intersection with a single point urban interchange (SPUI). The SPUI opened to traffic in June 2017.1

Completed on October 31, 2017, the project also improved the interchange joining I-790/NY 5-8-12 with NY 5A and NY 5S along Oriskany Street. A new off-ramp was added from NY 5A east to Lafayette and Varick Streets and existing ramps were reconfigured.1 The first of two contracts, including the March 2, 2014 implosion of the Fay Street Warehouse, started in March 2013. Work on the viaduct replacement and construction of the SPUI at Court Street started in March 2014.2

Route Information

  • East End – Utica, NY

  • West End – Utica, NY

  • Mileage – 2.41

  • Cities – Utica

  • Junctions – I-90 NY Thruway

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

I-790 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)

Source: 2019 AADT – NYS Traffic Data Viewer

1965 map of Utica, New York

1965 map of Utica, New York.

Interstate 790 originally connected with NY 5/8/12 with a compact trumpet interchange utilizing RIRO ramps.

Utica North-South Arterial Project Map

History

Designated as Interstate 590, the freeway spur into Utica was part of the proposed urban Interstate numerology submitted to the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) by the New York State Department of Public Works on August 22, 1958. AASHO approved the numbering on November 11, 1958, along with the recommendations of changing the proposed I-190 in Buffalo to I-290, I-290 in Rochester to I-490, I-490 in Syracuse to I-690 and I-690 in Schenectady to I-890. However based upon that sequence in a letter sent to AASHO on December 4, 1958, New York requested that I-590 in Utica be renumbered to I-790

to keep the numerical order of loops and spurs in correct sequence

AASHO approved the proposed change on February 5, 1959. Coincidentally I-390 and I-590 were later assigned to routes in Rochester, keeping the numerical sequence from west to east intact. The establishment of Interstate 990 in 1980 resulted in an exception.

The Utica North-South Arterial was built in the 1960s to improve traffic flow through the city. The arterial between Court and Oswego Streets was constructed as an at-grade roadway with intersections due to community concerns with the elevated highway. The viaduct was rehabilitated in 1991.1

 Photo Guides

East End I-90 NY Thruway New York 5 – Utica, New York

I-790 New York Route 5 East at I-90 NY Thruway

I-790/NY 5 east at I-90/NY Thrwy - Utica

The roadways for I-790/NY 5 run along the outside of the roadways for the New York Thruway east from NY 8/12/49 to Genesee Street and Leland Avenue. 08/22/21

I-790/NY 5 east at I-90/NY Thrwy - Utica

An exit ramp links I-790 east directly with the access road joining Genesee Street with the New York Thruway. I-790/NY 5 overlap east to the loop ramp for Genesee Street north. 08/22/21

I-790 east at I-90/NY Thrwy - Utica

Traffic partitions into single lane ramps at the east end of Interstate 790 for Genesee Street south and the New York Thruway. 08/22/21

I-790 east at I-90/NY Thrwy - Utica

Beyond the toll collection point, ramps separate for Interstate 90 west to Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo and east to Schenectady and Albany. 08/22/21

I-790/NY 5 east at Genesee St - Utica

The eastbound roadway along I-790 continues as NY 5 from Genesee Street to Leland Avenue. 08/22/21

I-790 east at NY 5 - 2001

Removed by 2018, an end shield for Interstate 790 preceded the exit for Genesee Street north along the eastbound roadway taking NY5 to Leland Avenue. Photo by Douglas Kerr (04/01).

I-790/NY 5 east at Genesee St - Utica

The NYSDOT Functional Class Viewer indicates that I-790 east ends at Genesee Street. Genesee Street extends north from Downtown Utica to Auert Avenue at Coventry Avenue. 08/22/21

I-790 West at New York Route 5

I-790 west at Genesee St - Utica, NY

A Breezewood connection links the New York Thruway with Interstate 790 west via Genesee Street north and Auert Avenue east. 08/22/21

I-790 west at Auert Av - Utica, NY

Genesee Street continues north from the trumpet interchange with the New York Thruway access road to Auert Avenue. 08/22/21

I-790 west at NY 5 - Utica

Traffic bound for Interstate 790 west from I-90 turns east onto Auert Avenue from Genesee Street to an adjacent freeway entrance ramp. 08/22/21

I-790 west at NY 5 - Utica

NY 5 dog legs south from Herkimer Road onto Leland Avenue to connect with the freeway leading west to Interstate 790. I-790 formally begins above Genesee Street. 08/22/21

I-90 NY Thruway East at I-790 New York Route 5

I-90/NYS Thrwy east at I-790/NY 5 - Utica

I-90/New York State Thruway runs alongside I-790/NY 5 east from the half turbine interchange joining NY 8/12 and NY 49 to the trumpet interchange at Exit 31. 03/26/23

I-90/NY Thrwy east at I-790/NY 5 - Utica

Guide signs for Exit 31 along the New York Thruway omit NY 5. NY 8/12 travel south through Utica to New Hartford and north along an expressway into the town fo Deerfield. 08/22/21

I-90/NY Thrwy east at I-790/NY 5 - Utica

Exit 31 leaves I-90 eastbound below the overpass for NY 5 (Leland Avenue). NY 5 parallels the Thruway east from I-790 to Ilion and Herkimer. 08/22/21

I-90 NY Thruway West at I-790 New York Route 5

I-90/NY Thrwy west at I-790/NY 5 - Utica

The New York Thruway crosses the Oneida County line 1.6 miles ahead of Exit 31 for I-790/NY 5 to NY 8/12 in Utica. 08/22/21

I-90/NY Thrwy west at I-790/NY 5 - Utica

NY 5 (Herkimer Road) and the Erie Canal parallel I-90 leading west to the trumpet interchange (Exit 31) with Interstate 790. 08/22/21

West End New York 5 New York 8 New York 12 / Court Street – Utica, New York

I-790 New York Route 5 West New York State Route 8 New York State Route 12 South at New York State Route 5A New York State Route 5S

I-790/NY 5-8-12 west at NY 5A/5S - Utica

Turning south from alongside I-90 (New York Thruway), I-790/NY 5 combine with NY 8/12 across Utica Marsh and the Mohawk River to NY 5S east and NY 5A west along Oriskany Street in Utica. 08/22/21

I-790/NY 5-8-12 west at NY 5A/5S - Utica

Two lanes depart from Interstate 790 east for NY 5A west to the villages of Yorkville and Whitesboro, State Street south, and NY 5S east to Downtown Utica. 08/22/21

I-790/NY 5-8-12 west at Court St - Utica

I-790 ends at the exchange with NY 5A/5S (Oriskany Street) as the exit for Court Street separates from NY 5/8/12 (North-South Arterial) southbound. 03/26/23

New York Route 5 East New York State Route 8 New York State Route 12 North at I-790 New York State Route 5A New York State Route 5S

NY 5/8/12 north at I-790-NY 5A/5S - Utica

A SPUI joins NY 5/8/12 (North-South Arterial) with Court Street just ahead of the eastbound beginning of Interstate 790. 08/22/21

NY 5/8/12 north at I-790-NY 5A/5S - 2001

Replaced by the Utica North South Arterial Project in 2013-17, the former viaduct leading onto Interstate 790 east in Utica dated to 1962. Photo by Chris Jordan (07/01).

NY 5/8/12 north at I-790-NY 5A/5S - Utica

Interstate 790 commences along NY 5 east / NY 8-12 north at the directional cloverleaf interchange with NY 5S west to Whitesboro and NY 5A (Oriskany Street) east to Downtown Utica. 08/22/21

New York State Route 5A East at I-790 New York Route 5 New York State Route 5S New York State Route 8 New York State Route 12

NY 5A east at I-790/NY 5-5S-8-12 - Utica

The North South Arterial Project added a new eastbound off-ramp from NY 5A (Oriskany Street) to parallel Lafayette Street where this guide sign for I-790 east was previously located. The North-South Arterial carries NY 5-8-12 south to NY 840 at New Hartford. Photo by Douglas Kerr (10/12/02).

New York State Route 5S West at I-790 New York Route 5 New York State Route 5A New York State Route 8 New York State Route 12

NY 5S west at I-790/NY 5-5S-8-12 - Utica

NY 5S (Oriskany Street) leaves Downtown Utica and meets I-790 east and NY 5-8-12 (North South Arterial) by Adirondack Bank Center at the Utica Memorial Auditorium. NY 5A takes over along Oriskany Street west to the village of Yorkville. Photo by Douglas Kerr (09/16/02).

State Street – North at I-790 New York Route 5 New York State Route 5S New York State Route 8 New York State Route 12

State St north at I-790/NS 5/5S/8/12 - Utica

State Street connects Court Street north with Interstate 790 east at the exchange joining NY 5S/5A with NY 5/8/12 west of Downtown Utica. 03/26/23

Sources:

  1. “Governor Cuomo Announces Completion of $66.5 Million North-South Arterial Project in Utica.” New York State Governor’s Press Office. October 31, 2017.
  2. Route 5/8/12 North-South Arterial Viaduct Replacement. NYSDOT project web site.

Page updated April 5, 2023.