Unsigned Interstate 878 New York

Interstate 878 New York
Queens, NY ↔ North Hangar Road near Springfield Gardens, Queens, NY•0.70 miles

Overview

Signed as New York Route 878, Interstate 878 overlays the portion of the Nassau Expressway in Queens built with Interstate Highway funds. Just 0.70 miles in length between Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) and John F. Kennedy Expressway, I-878 is the shortest Interstate in the system. Only the eastbound roadway for the Nassau Expressway was constructed from NY 27 (Conduit Boulevard) at Ozone Park to JFK Expressway on the north side of John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK). Westbound lanes accompany the at-grade portion of the Nassau Expressway from Rockaway Boulevard to Belt Parkway ahead of the Van Wyck Expressway. The I-878 mileage references just the eastbound roadway of the limited access section.

I-878 NYSDOT Functional Class Map
The section of the Nassau Expressway assigned as I-878 runs east from I-678 to John F. Kennedy Expressway.

Mileage by State

New York0.70 mi

Data Sources

December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

History

Originally planned to be part of Interstate 78 extending southeast from Lower Manhattan through Brooklyn to Queens, the Nassau Expressway opened in 1971 with just a eastbound roadway. The proposed alignments for I-78 through Brooklyn and Queens were eliminated in 1971, but the Nassau Expressway segment remained signed as I-78 until 1989.1 The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) previously deleted I-78 along the Nassau Expressway on June 23, 1969, opting to redesignate it as Interstate 878.

The unconstructed westbound lanes of I-878 were scrapped in 1981 due to community opposition and other issues. The single roadway extends between Cross Bay Boulevard and Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) just south of the Belt (Southern) Parkway. East of John F. Kennedy Expressway, both directions of Nassau Expressway were built along an at-grade arterial to a jug handle intersection with Hangar Road. Nassau Expressway extends southeast into Nassau County as Rockaway Boulevard.

Although not shielded, NYSDOT reference markers identify the route as "878I" for the freeway portion within the vicinity of Interstate 678 and John F. Kennedy Expressway. The I suffixed on NYSDOT reference markers identifies an Interstate highway. According to Steve Anderson's site, I-878 shields were posted in 1989 when the Interstate designation was first confirmed.

Prior to the renumbering of I-278 and I-895 in Bronx, New York by AASHTO on June 23, 1969:, the Interstate 878 designation was reserved for the Bruckner Expressway east from the Sheridan Expressway (I-895) to the Bruckner Interchange with I-95. During that time period, Interstate 278 followed the Sheridan Expressway north to the Cross Bronx Expressway. It was proposed to extend 5.2 miles further along an alignment over U.S. 1 (Boston Post Road) northeast to Interstate 95 at the New England Thruway. The Sheridan Expressway extension however was dropped in 1971, along with several other metropolitan expressway proposals.2 I-278 was instead realigned over planned I-878 and the short section of the Sheridan Expressway was redesignated as Interstate 895. For more, visit Steve Anderson's Sheridan Expressway.

East End New York State Route 878 ‐ North Hangar Road near Springfield Gardens, Queens, NY

Interstate 878 East at New York State Route 878 John F. Kennedy Expwy

I-878 east at JFK Expwy - Queens, NY

Just a half mile east of Interstate 678, NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) meets John F. Kennedy Expressway at Exit 2 S. 12/17/17

I-878 east at JFK Expwy - Queens, NY I-878 east at JFK Expwy - Queens, NY NY 878 east at I-678/878 - Queens I-878 east at JFK Expwy - Queens, NY NY 878 east at I-678/878 - Queens I-878 east at NY 878 - Queens, NY

West End Interstate 678 New York State Route 878 ‐ Queens, NY

New York State Route 27 East at New York State Route 878

NY 27 east at NY 878 - Queens

NY 27 follows the initial segment of the Nassau Expressway as it branches southeast from Conduit Avenue. Forming the south frontage road for the Belt Parkway east to Nassau County, NY 27 route returns to Conduit Avenue ahead of Lefferts Boulevard. 12/17/17

NY 27 east at NY 878 - Queens NY 27 east at NY 878 - Queens Belt Pkwy east at NY 878 - Queens

New York State Route 878 East at Interstate 878 Interstate 678

NY 878 east at I-678/878 - Queens

NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) shifts northward through an industrial area ahead of 134th Street and the directional cloverleaf interchange (Exits 1 S/N) with I-678 (Van Wyck Expressway). 12/17/17

NY 878 east at I-678/878 - Queens I-878 east at I-678 - Queens

Interstate 678 North at Interstate 878 New York State Route 878

I-678 north at I-878 - Queens, NY

Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) passes under the Red and Green AirTrain transit lines and separates with Exit 1 A for NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) and the Belt Parkway east to Long Island. 12/17/17

Interstate 678 South at Interstate 878 New York State Route 878

I-678 south at I-878 - Queens, NY

Left Exit 1E for NY 27 (S Conduit Avenue) and Belt Parkway east departs alongside Exit 1 from I-678 (Van Wyck Expressway) south to NY 878 (Nassau Expressway) east. 08/29/05

I-678 south at I-878 - Queens, NY I-678 south at I-878 - Queens, NY I-678 south at I-878 - Queens, NY

References

  1. Anderson, S. (n.d.) New York 878: Nassau Expressway. NYCRoads.com. Retrieved from http://www.nycroads.com/roads/NY-878/
  2. Anderson, S. (n.d.) Sheridan Expressway. NYCRoads.com. Retrieved from http://www.nycroads.com/roads/sheridan/
Updated June 8, 2022