Interstate 295 New York
Overview
I-295 crosses the East River on the Throgs Neck Bridge south from Fort Schuyler in Bronx to Beechhurst in Queens. Built to provide congestion relief along the Bronx Whitestone Bridge (I-678), the suspension bridge opened to traffic in 1961.1 05/30/22
Interstate 295 is the combination of the Clearview Expressway, Throgs Neck Bridge, and Cross Bronx Expressway Extension in New York City. It is a freeway open to all traffic (unlike the parkway system). Interstate 295 begins at Grand Central Parkway near Hollis in Queens and travels north across the tolled Throgs Neck Bridge to Bronx. The freeway culminates at the Bruckner Interchange, where I-95 (Cross Bronx Expressway), I-278 (Bruckner Expressway), I-678 (Whitestone Expressway) and the Hutchinson River Parkway come together.
History
Originally, the section of Interstate 295 was planned as part of Interstate 78 through New York City. However, when several sections of Interstate 78 through Manhattan and Brooklyn were canceled (including the Lower Manhattan Expressway, Bushwick Expressway, and the southern half of the Clearview Expressway), the completed section of the Clearview Expressway section was renumbered as Interstate 295.
The southern extension of the Clearview Expressway, north from the Nassau Expressway / Belt Parkway to Grand Central Parkway, was not constructed due to community opposition and other considerations. I-295 ends just south of high speed ramps with Grand Central Parkway at a traffic signal with New York 25 (Hillside Avenue) in the Queens neighborhood of Hollis.
For more historical information on Interstate 295 in New York, visit Steve Anderson’s pages:
Route Information
North End – Bronx, New York, NY
South End – Queens, New York, NY
Mileage – 7.70
Cities – New York City
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-295 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Location | Vehicles per day |
|---|---|
| NY 25 to Exit 1 | 21,833 |
| Exits 1 to 2 | 49,449 |
| Exits 2 to 3 | 66,617 |
| Exits 4 to 5 | 91,585 |
| Exits 5 to 7 | 74,018 |
| Throgs Neck Br | 115,582 |
| I-695 to Bruckner Int | 89,598 |
Source: 2015 NYSDOT Traffic Data Viewer
Grand Central Parkway east at I-295 (Clearview Expressway). 09/93
Highway Guides
North End 
– The Bronx, New York City, New York
North at
Beyond Exit 11 to Randall Avenue, I-295 (Cross Bronx Expressway Extension) continues northwest to the Bruckner Interchange with I-95 (Cross Bronx Expressway) southbound and Interstate 278 (Bruckner Expressway) west. 05/30/22
The Cross Bronx Expressway transitions from I-295 north onto I-95 south while the Bruckner Expressway shifts from I-95 south onto I-278 west. Two lanes join the Bruckner Expressway west to the RFK to Wards Island and Manhattan. 05/30/22
Interstate 95 travels below grade west to Parkchester, Mt. Hope and Hudson Heights while I-278 passes through Unionport and Soundview ahead of the Bronx River to Hunts Point. 05/30/22
I-295 ends as the Cross Bronx Expressway extends west along Interstate 95 to the Alexander Hamilton Bridge over the Harlem River and the George Washington Bridge to Fort Lee, New Jersey. 12/17/17
North at
Interstate 95 (Cross Bronx Expressway) passes under White Plains Road and Hugh J. Grant Circle one mile ahead of the Bruckner Interchange with I-678 and I-295. 05/30/22
Exit 6 A comprises a lengthy flyover linking I-95 north with Interstate 678 to the Whitestone Bridge. The ramp parallels the beginning of I-295 and the east end of I-278 east before turning southward onto Hutchinson River Expressway. 05/30/22
Exit 6 A connects with I-678 south to JFK International Airport; there is no access to I-678 north to Hutchinson River Parkway. Exit 6 B quickly follows for I-295 south above Zerega Avenue and Westchester Creek. 05/30/22
Interstate 95 north elevates over I-678 and Hutchinson River Parkway with three lanes to the separation with I-295 at Exit 6 B. 05/30/22
I-95 north splits with the Cross Bronx Expressway Extension at Exit 12 and Interstate 295 while overtaking the Bruckner Expressway east from end of I-278. 05/30/22
Interstate 295 heads southeast two miles to combine with I-695 (Throgs Neck Expressway) ahead of the Throgs Neck Bridge to Queens. 05/30/22
East at
Interstate 295 south begins with two lanes from I-278 and two lanes from I-95. 05/30/22
North End Throwback
North at
Replaced button copy sign a half mile ahead of the Bruckner Interchange with I-95 south and I-278 west. 08/29/05
I-295 advanced northwest through the Throgs Neck community in Bronx, New York to the exchange with I-95/278. 08/29/05
Traffic partitioned for I-95 south and I-278 west at these button copy signs where I-295 ends and historically I-78 did. 08/29/05
South End 
/ Hillside Avenue – Hollis, Queens, New York
South at
Interstate 295 advances south with two lanes to Grand Central Parkway (GCP) and NY 25 (Hillside Avenue) beyond the lane drop at Exit 2 for Union Turnpike. 05/30/22
The four level interchange (Exit 1) joining Interstate 295 (Clearview Expressway) with Grand Central Parkway lies 1.75 miles west of the Cross Island (Belt) Parkway. 05/30/22
Exit 1 leaves Interstate 295 south for Grand Central Parkway, one half mile from the Clearview Expressway end at NY 25 (Hillside Avenue). Photo by David Greenberger (03/01).
Forthcoming NY 25 parallels Grand Central Parkway west to Jamaica Estates. The state route turns onto Braddock Avenue to the east en route to Jamaica Avenue and Floral Park. 05/30/22
The high speed exchange with Grand Central Parkway remains from the unconstructed extension of the Clearview Expressway south through Bellaire and Cambria Heights as part of Interstate 78. 05/30/22
The Clearview Expressway ends at a signalized intersection with NY 25 (Hillside Avenue) and Hollis Court Boulevard south. 05/30/22
212nd Street north at
212th Street heads north from Jamaica Avenue through the Hollis community to intersect NY 25 (Hillside Avenue) across from the Clearview Expressway beginning. 05/30/22
212th Street north at NY 25 (Hillside Avenue). Interstate 295 commences one block north at Whitehall Terrace. 05/30/22
Interstate 295 (Clearview Expressway) shifts to the left to navigate through the four level exchange with Grand Central Parkway as Exit 1 separates to the right at Whitehall Terrace. 05/30/22
East at
NY 25 (Hillside Avenue) east at 212th Street north to I-295 (Clearview Expressway) and adjacent Grand Central Parkway. 06/13/05
Sources:
- Throgs Neck Bridge. Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) web site.
Page updated June 7, 2022.
