Interstate 790
From Free net encyclopedia
Interstate 790 (abbreviated I-790) is a tertiary spur interstate route of Interstate 90. Interstate 790 is an intrastate interstate that is located entirely in the state of New York. I-790 runs for 2.4 miles (3.9 km) roughly north-south. The interstate's sole purpose is to connect I-90 with downtown Utica, New York. The northern terminus of I-790 is at Interstate 90 while the southern terminus is with New York Routes 5, 8, and 12 in downtown Utica. Its northern junction with I-90 is very strange; I-790 almost qualifies as an orphan, but the complex system of I-90 service roads to Thruway tollbooth 31 seems to be barely freeway standard.
Originally built as a two-lane road from I-90 Exit 31 to its intersection with Routes 5, 8 and 12, in the late 1980s it was rebuilt as a freeway that straddles I-90. However, to accomplish this, the direct connection from I-90 to I-790 was eliminated, necessitating the use of surface streets and passing through traffic lights for traffic to reach I-790. This approach has created some traffic congestion that continues to grow with the expansion of industry in the area, including a busy Wal*Mart distribution center in the Town of Marcy.
I-790, where it is actually signed as there are few signs for it, is signed as an east-west route. It runs concurrently with New York Route 5 along its entire length and follows Routes 8 and 12 as well for the first mile. It's western/southern terminus is with New York Routes 5A and 5S.