Interstate 990 New York
Overview
Interstate 990, the highest-numbered Interstate highway, is metropolitan Buffalo’s Lockport Expressway. The commuter freeway connects the greater Buffalo area with the State University of New York at Buffalo (SUNY Buffalo) and the city of Lockport as part of a four lane corridor using NY 263 and NY 78.
History
AASHTO approved the designation of Interstate 990 on November 14, 1980 as the first project for the Lockport Expressway started.1 An extension from NY 299 (North French Road) northeast to NY 263 (Millersport Highway) was later approved by AASHTO on April 17, 1993.
Earliest plans for the Lockport Expressway took the freeway north to the Lake Ontario State Parkway or east directly to Rochester.2 Excessive growth projections for eastern Niagara County in the 1960’s redefined the route to end at NY 31 in Gasport.3
The National System of Interstate and Defense Highways Requests on file for additions to the Interstate System on March 30, 1970 included the unconstructed 66.3 mile route linking Niagara Falls with Rochester. The same request designated a 12-mile corridor for the Lockport Expressway. As the lofty population projections for Niagara County never panned out, the route east to Gasport was never fully realized.
Another plan for Interstate 990 had the route overtaking NY 263 (Millersport Highway) northeast from the current end to NY 78.2 With job growth in Lockport accelerating in the 1980s, the Lockport Highway Association advocated the “Four Lanes to Lockport” effort to both enhance accessibility with the rest of the highway network and also attract future investment and jobs.3
The Lockport Expressway opened in the early 1980s as construction got underway for the University of Buffalo – North Campus. The route ended at North French Road in Amherst, with the Four Lanes to Lockport effort focused on extending north to at least Millersport Highway.3
The final section of Interstate 990 opened following a ribbon cutting ceremony held on the morning of December 21, 1990. A two-mile stretch opened from French Road (Exit 4) to NY 263 (Exit 5). The $20 million project included expansion of a mile long section of Millersport Highway to four lanes. The roadway was funded as part of the 1983 Rebuild New York bond issue and included in a “memorandum of understanding” between the governor and state Legislature.4
Subsequent work in the “Four Lanes to Lockport” effort included $13.2 million to reconstruct 3.5 miles of NY 78 (Transit Road) leading north from an expanded NY 263 (Millersport Highway), northeast of I-990. Groundbreaking for the project was held on April 26, 1996. Construction completed in November 1997 wrapped up sixteen years and $85 million in construction to finish the four lane corridor.1
Route Information
North End – Millersport, NY
South End – Amherst, NY
- Mileage – 6.35
Cities – Amhurst
- Junctions –
Source: December 31, 2018 Interstate Route Log and Finders List
I-990 Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT)
| Vehicles per day | Location |
|---|---|
| 64,074 | I-290 to Exit 1 |
| 52,638 | Exits 1 to 2 |
| 38,827 | Exits 2 to 3 |
| 38,480 | Exits 3 to 4 |
| 24,245 | Exits 4 to 5 |
Source: 2016 AADT – NYS Traffic Data Viewer
North End – 
Millersport, New York
north to
The final quarter mile of I-990 north takes Lockport Expressway east along side CrossPoint Business Park and below Hopkins Road. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
Exit 5 takes all remaining traffic along I-990 north to NY 263 (Millersport Highway). Concrete barriers shunt traffic onto the off-ramp ahead of a roadway stub left over from the aborted plans to extend Interstate 990 north closer to Lockport. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
Interstate 990 ends at a half diamond interchange with NY 263 (Millersport Highway). NY 263 continues three miles northeast to a terminus with NY 78 at Millersport. Downtown Lockport, the county seat of Niagara County, is nine miles away. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
Interstate 990 veers northeast from French Road to end at NY 263 (Millersport Highway) in 0.75 miles. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
south
The first reassurance marker for Interstate 990 south stands along the mainline just west of NY 263 (Millersport Highway). Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
South End – Amherst, New York
south to
One mile ahead of the directional T interchange with Interstate 290 (Power Line Expressway) on I-990 south. Spanning the freeway here is a pedestrian bridge connecting the Willow Ridge Estates community with Sweet Home High School. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
Interstate 990 south concludes at the separation for I-290 west to the northern suburbs of North Tonawanda and Tonawanda and south through Amherst. The New York Thruway (Interstate 90) is four miles to the east. Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
west to
Leaving the full cloverleaf interchange with NY 263, I-290 (Powerline Expressway) quickly approaches Exit 4 with Interstate 990 north. Photo taken by Chris Elbert (07/06).
Interstate 290 west passes under Maple Road as Exit 4 departs for I-990 (Lockport Expressway) north to Lockport and the University of Buffalo (UB). Photo taken by Jeff Morrison (07/01/07).
Two lanes leave I-290 (Youngmann Expressway) west for I-990 north just beyond the Sweet Home Road underpass. Interstate 990 runs between a number of apartment complexes just west of the UB campus. I-290 extends west to a commercialized interchange with U.S. 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard). Photo taken by Chris Elbert (07/06).
east to
The first of several guide signs for Interstate 990 (Exit 4) posted on I-290 eastbound. I-990 was the last of the branch routes for Interstate 90 signed within the Empire State. Because of that, it is out of order in the west to east numbering sequence (I-190 and I-290 in Buffalo and I-890 in Schenectady). Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (11/10/01).
Interstate 290 east enters a three quarter cloverleaf interchange (Exits 3A/B) with U.S. 62 (Niagara Falls Boulevard) just a half mile ahead of I-990. Traveling through residential and retail areas of north Buffalo, U.S. 62 receives a significant amount of traffic. Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (05/06/02).
Exit 3B loops away from I-290 (Youngmann Expressway) east for U.S. 62 north. Four lanes advance to the adjacent directional T interchange (Exit 4) with Interstate 990 (Lockport Expressway). Photo taken by Douglas Kerr (10/20/02).
Interstate 290 expands to five lanes ahead of the split with I-990 north. The ensuing exits from both I-990 north and I-290 east serve the adjacent State University at Buffalo (UB) campus. Sign changes made for Exit 4 made by 2007 reference the North Campus of UB. Photo taken 05/27/00.
Interstate 290 east at Exit 4 (I-990 north). Lockport lies 15 miles to the north via NY 263 and NY 78. Photo taken 05/27/00.
Sources:
- “Final Phase Begins in ‘Four Lane to Lockport’ Project.” Buffalo News, April 27, 1996.
- “Re: Was I-990 originally supposed to run east of NY 263?” online posting by cl94, AARoads Forum, August 9, 2014.
- “Four Lanes has enabled Lockport’s continued growth.” Buffalo News, December 27, 2015.
- “New Link in Lockport Route to Open 4-lane Highway to Buffalo Only 2 – Miles Shy of Goal.” Buffalo News, December 20, 1990.
Page updated August 27, 2019.
