New York State Route 18

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New York State Route 18 marker

New York State Route 18

Map
Map of western New York with NY 18 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT, Monroe County and the city of Rochester
Length87.40 mi[1] (140.66 km)
Existed1924[2]–present
Tourist
routes
Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Major junctions
West end NY 104 in Lewiston
Major intersections
East end NY 104 in Rochester
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountiesNiagara, Orleans, Monroe
Highway system
NY 18A

New York State Route 18 (NY 18) is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs parallel to the south shore of Lake Ontario for most of its length between Niagara County and Monroe County. NY 18, which also passes through Orleans County, acts as a northerly alternate to NY 104, another east–west route that parallels NY 18 to the south on Ridge Road. The western terminus of NY 18 is at a complex grade-separated interchange with NY 104 outside the village of Lewiston. Its eastern terminus is at a junction with NY 104 in an area of Rochester known as Eastman Business Park.

NY 18 was assigned in 1924 and originally extended from the

town of Lewiston
in the early 1960s and on its east end to Rochester in the early 1970s.

Although NY 18 is signed as east–west, it runs primarily north–south through the western portion of Niagara County. After leaving Niagara County, NY 18 shifts farther south, gradually moving away from the shore of Lake Ontario. In central Orleans County, NY 18 meets the Lake Ontario State Parkway at the Lakeside Beach State Park. The parkway then becomes the lakeside road, and NY 18 veers south to follow a more inland routing.

Route description

Niagara County

NY 18 northwest of Model City

NY 18 begins at a junction with NY 104 south of a complex grade-separated interchange that includes NY 18F, NY 104, and the Niagara Scenic Parkway on the eastern edge of the village of Lewiston. From NY 104 east, a right-turn ramp allows access to Creek Road Extension, the first street that modern-day NY 18 occupies. NY 104 continues north from the ramp, passing over NY 18 westbound (which terminates at the merge ramp with NY 104 west) on its way to the village while NY 18 proceeds to the northeast on Creek Road Extension, bypassing Lewiston to the southeast. After 0.5 miles (0.8 km), the highway curves to the north and meets NY 104 at an unconventional grade-separated interchange that has a pair of two-way ramps connecting the two state routes. NY 18 continues on, passing under NY 104 and paralleling the Niagara Scenic Parkway as it proceeds north.[3]

At a wye in the

Seaway Trail, a National Scenic Byway. The route proceeds northeast to Four Mile Creek State Park, where it intersects the northern end of the Niagara Scenic Parkway. East of the park, NY 18 gradually moves to the north, decreasing the area between the route and the lakeshore as it proceeds east.[3]

Now in

Lockport, however. After meeting the northern end of NY 148 in Somerset, NY 18 intersects the northern terminus of NY 269 at the Niagara–Orleans County line.[3]

Orleans County

Northbound on NY 18 (west) and NY 272 along the Orleans–Monroe County line

Across the county line, NY 18 becomes the Roosevelt Highway. It continues across the northern edge of the county and the southern fringe of Lake Ontario, meeting the northern terminus of

County Route 63-1 (CR 63-1).[4] This portion of Lyndonville Road was once part of NY 63.[5] In Carlton, NY 18 intersects the northern terminus of NY 279, the last in a series of north–south routes that terminate at NY 18. Not far to the east, the route serves Lakeside Beach State Park and indirectly connects to the western terminus of the Lake Ontario State Parkway. At this point, the Seaway Trail leaves NY 18 to follow the parkway along the lakeshore.[3]

East of the park, NY 18 breaks from the Lake Ontario shore and begins to make its way southward, curving to the southeast as it meets

Baldwin Corner. The routes converge to form a concurrency south to the hamlet, where NY 18 continues east. At the Carlton–Kendall town line, NY 18 curves southeastward once again before reverting to an easterly alignment in Kendall. After passing NY 237 south of the hamlet of Kendall, NY 18 intersects NY 272 at the Orleans–Monroe County line. NY 18 merges onto the county line road, overlapping NY 272 along the county line for just under 1 mile (1.6 km) to the continuation of Roosevelt Highway, where NY 18 continues east into Monroe County.[3]

Monroe County

NY 18 remains Roosevelt Highway until Hamlin–Parma Town Line Road, where is becomes West Avenue. In the hamlet of Hamlin, it meets NY 19. NY 18 passes NY 260 before swerving northward onto West Avenue at the Hamlin–Parma town line and proceeding eastward toward the village of Hilton. In Hilton, NY 18 meets NY 259 (Lake Avenue) in the center of the village. The two routes overlap for a short distance east along Main Street before turning south to exit the village on South Avenue.[3]

NY 18 eastbound in Rochester about a half-mile north of NY 104

NY 18 and NY 259, now named Hilton–Parma Corners Road, remain concurrent until

Greece town line; as a result, NY 18 joins NY 261 for one block southward before returning east on Latta Road and entering the Rochester suburb of Greece. NY 18 passes through the rural northwestern part of the town and the more developed, densely populated northeastern section, meeting NY 390 at exit 26 in the latter. The junction is the northernmost exit on NY 390 prior to its merging with the Lake Ontario State Parkway to the north.[3]

A small distance east of NY 390, NY 18 passes

CR 132, an unsigned designation that follows Dewey Avenue north to its end at the Lake Ontario shoreline.[6] The route continues south on Dewey Avenue to the Rochester city line, where CR 132 ends and maintenance of the route shifts to the city of Rochester.[8] NY 18 ends about 1 mile (1.6 km) later at a junction with NY 104 in an industrialized area known as Eastman Business Park.[3]

History

Origins and early changes

Looking west at the junction of NY 18 and NY 19 in Hamlin. NY 18 initially turned right here and followed modern NY 19 and the now-decommissioned NY 360 into Orleans County.

In 1908, the

NY 950K and U.S. Route 62 or US 62) to Niagara Falls and current NY 104 and NY 18F between Niagara Falls and Lake Ontario.[9][10] When the first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924, the portion of legislative Route 18 north of Buffalo became the basis for NY 34, which began at Main Street (NY 5) in Buffalo and followed the path of legislative Route 18 through Niagara Falls and along the Niagara River to Lake Ontario. NY 18 was assigned at the same time; however, it initially went from the Pennsylvania state line at Limestone north to Buffalo along what is now US 219, NY 417, NY 353 and US 62. In Cattaraugus County, NY 18 initially followed Leon and New Albion Roads between Cattaraugus and Little Valley.[2][11]

NY 18 was extended northeastward to

Webster by the following year by way of East Ridge Road, Culver Road, and Lake Road.[15] NY 18 was never extended eastward past its junction with NY 250.[16][17][18]

While the general routing of NY 18 between Youngstown and Rochester was the same in 1930 as it is now, it initially followed a slightly different alignment through eastern

Morton, from where it continued to Hamlin via the now-decommissioned NY 360 and NY 19. Additionally, NY 18 utilized Hamlin Center Road and what is now NY 260 between Hamlin and Roosevelt Highway.[12][14]

Webster

The majority of NY 18's routing south of the

city of Salamanca. US 219 left NY 18 here, and the latter continued independently to the town of Dayton, where it intersected US 62. From there, US 62 followed NY 18 north to a junction with US 104 (Main Street) in Niagara Falls. US 62 ended here, and NY 18 became concurrent to US 104 upon turning onto Main Street. The overlap ended in the village of Lewiston, where US 104 turned east to follow Ridge Road instead.[14][19]

Realignments and truncation

By 1931, NY 18 was realigned to follow its current alignment between Hamlin and the Parma town line while the modern routing of NY 18 between the Orleans County line and Hamlin was designated as NY 360.[15] The alignments of NY 360 and NY 18 between NY 272 and Hamlin were flipped c. 1933, placing both routes on their modern routings through Hamlin.[20][21] NY 18 was moved onto its present routing through Kendall c. 1938, bypassing the hamlets of Kendall and Morton to the south.[22][23] In the Buffalo area, NY 18 was realigned twice in the 1930s: first by 1935 to bypass downtown to the east on Bailey Avenue between Abbott Road and Main Street[19] and again in the late 1930s to use Bailey Avenue and Eggert Road between Main Street and Niagara Falls Boulevard.[24][25] The Cattaraugus–Little Valley segment of the route was realigned c. 1934 to travel directly between the two locations. Its former routing via New Albion became NY 18F;[21][26] however, that designation was eliminated c. 1938, and ownership of the New Albion route was transferred to Cattaraugus County, which has maintained it as portions of County Routes 5 and 6 ever since.[22][23]

August 2009 photo of a reference marker for NY 18 on NY 590 in Irondequoit

NY 18 was rerouted between Lewiston and Youngstown on January 1, 1949, to follow a more inland highway through western

Sea Breeze Expressway. The route turned north, following the highway to its end at Culver Road, where it rejoined its pre-expressway alignment.[17][28] The western terminus of NY 18 was moved north to its present location in Lewiston on January 1, 1962,[29] eliminating the three lengthy overlaps that existed between Pennsylvania and Lewiston. The lone independent portion of NY 18 south of Lewiston was renumbered NY 353.[30][31]

On January 1, 1970,

Olcott realignment

The alignment of NY 18 through Olcott Beach dated back to the early 1800s, starting with a foot bridge over

USD) for the use of transporting wagons across the creek. General James Weisner contracted to build the bridge, which was 77 feet (23 m) wide, along with 20 20-foot (6.1 m) long spans. That bridge was replaced in 1878 by an iron structure with dimensions of 100 by 22 feet (30.5 m × 6.7 m). This new span was a swing bridge, compared to the prior fixed structures. The New York State Department of Public Works replaced that structure with another fixed span in 1935. This span was too low to the water line, causing a bottleneck of boats and ships entering Eighteen Mile Creek. This two-lane structure was a 160-foot (49 m) long structure, that also caused a bottleneck for drivers because there became no parking in Olcott.[39]

Former NY 18 alignment in Olcott approaching the old bridge built in 1935

Frustration grew in the 1960s to this low-level bridge. This involved a community movement to get a new bridge built through Olcott in 1966. This would involve razing the former span from 1935 and opening Eighteen Mile Creek back to the boaters who could not fit under the span. The creek, navigable from nearby Burt, would get more use without the bridge blocking the boats from entering. A new bridge would need to be a 40–50 feet (12–15 m) high, compared to 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m), which the older structure was. Residents felt that if they got a new bridge built, they could make at least $60,00 for attracting schooners to Olcott. They felt that with boat owners, Olcott's average income would skyrocket to $500,000 a year. The construction of a new bridge would expand the harbor in Olcott overall. The petition for a new bridge attracted almost 400 signatures from local residents, boaters and landowners.[40]

This petition reached

Earl W. Brydges, a resident of Wilson. He drafted legislation to fund $500,000 to the Department of Public Works to construct a new bridge in Olcott. Assemblyman V. Sumner Carroll of Niagara Falls followed with the Assembly. Initial estimates for a new bridge, located south of the current structure, would be $370,000. This would keep traffic flow from being interrupted for construction, building an improved alignment of NY 18. The right-of-way costs would be cheaper and the harbor would have a new structure to appease the design of the area.[40]

By February 1967 the support for a new bridge grew locally. The bridge, which now cost over $1.75 million to build, would be 50 feet (15 m) high. Engineers suggested that 32 feet (9.8 m) would be the highest rebuilding the current structure could go. Engineers also considered alternate concepts, but the design of the area prohibited any options besides a new bridge. This new bridge would involve building an approach at West Creek Road near the local water tower. This would bypass downtown Olcott to the south, crossing Eighteen Mile Creek before reaching a junction with NY 78 850 feet (260 m) south of the current intersection between NY 18 and NY 78. The alignment would then cross Franklin Street and through nearby Krull Park where it would meet then-current NY 18. This new alignment would be 1 mile (1.6 km) long, coming at the cost of 16 structures. This would include farm buildings, barber shop, gas station and a few homes. Some locals asked if the construction would be superfluous with the construction of the nearby Lake Ontario State Parkway, which they stated would be several miles south of Olcott.[41]

The new bridge over Eighteen Mile Creek built in Olcott from 1968–1970, seen from the old structure's location upstream

By January 1968, the number of properties affected rose to 67, with 20 homes affected in various fashions. The new bridge would cost $1.1 million, would be 525 feet (160 m) long, with four lanes 12 feet (3.7 m) wide. The new approaches to the bridge would cost $1.4 million to build. At that point, the Department of Public Works speculated construction would begin in 1968.[42] Meanwhile, money was granted for the study of widening the Olcott harbor channel for boaters.[43] On June 21, 1968, it was announced that the Tuscarora Construction Company of Amherst made a winning $2,578,783 bid for construction of the bridge and its approaches.[44]

Construction began in August 1968, with land clearing and construction of the physical bridge in October 1968. The New York State Department of Transportation said the project would be complete by December 1, 1970.[45] Construction rapidly advanced through 1968 into and into 1969, with the new piers being built by April 1969. Concrete was being poured in the piers, while power, gas and electric lines were being realigned for construction.[46] With the construction running ahead of schedule, there was a belief that the project could be finished ahead of schedule. Construction of abutments was to start soon in May 1969.[47]

The process was so rapidly advancing that despite the late delivery of steel in October 1969 for the new structure, it failed to stop the construction.[48] The rapid pace continued into 1970, with the construction ahead of the new November 15, 1970, deadline.[49] However, construction continued until the bridge opened on November 9, 1970, to traffic at 11 am.[50]

The Army Corps of Engineers expanded navigation of Eighteen Mile Creek to Burt in February 1972 thanks to bridge construction.[51] However, despite the new bridge, the history of bridges at Olcott caused problems for boaters. Despite the old bridge being torn out, the pilings of the 1878 structure were still present 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) underwater.[52]

Suffixed routes

NY 18 has had seven suffixed routes using six designations; only one, NY 18F, still exists. Most of the routes were renumbered when NY 18 was truncated to

Lewiston
c. 1962.

NY 18E's former alignment in the Earl W. Brydges Artpark State Park

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
NiagaraVillage of Lewiston0.000.00 NY 104 – Canada, BuffaloWestern terminus, interchange
Town of Lewiston
1.001.61 NY 104
Hamlet of Towers Corners
7.7512.47
NY 18F south / Great Lakes Seaway Trail
Northern terminus of NY 18F
8.5513.76 Niagara Scenic Parkway – Fort Niagara, Youngstown, Niagara FallsNorthern terminus of Niagara Scenic Parkway
Village of Wilson17.8528.73
NY 425 south – Business District
Northern terminus of NY 425
Newfane23.7138.16
NY 78 south
Northern terminus of NY 78; hamlet of Olcott
Somerset31.8551.26
NY 148 south – Barker
Northern terminus of NY 148
NiagaraOrleans
county line
SomersetYates
town line
36.3958.56
NY 269 south
Northern terminus of NY 269
OrleansYates40.2864.82
NY 63 south – Lyndonville
Northern terminus of NY 63
Carlton47.2175.98
NY 279 south
Northern terminus of NY 279
48.2177.59
Lakeside Beach Road / Great Lakes Seaway Trail to Lake Ontario State Parkway – Lakeside Beach State Park, Rochester
Western terminus of Lake Ontario Parkway; exit closed between December and March
50.7981.74
overlap
51.3382.61
NY 98 south
Hamlet of Baldwin Corner; southern terminus of NY 18 / NY 98 overlap
51.6383.09

To
NY 941M
)
Eastern terminus of unsigned NY 941M; to NY 98 south only signed westbound; hamlet of Baldwin Corner
Kendall59.9996.54 NY 237
OrleansMonroe
county line
KendallHamlin
town line
62.20100.10
NY 272 north
Northern terminus of NY 18 / NY 272 overlap
63.18101.68
NY 272 south
Southern terminus of NY 18 / NY 272 overlap; hamlet of Kendall Mills
MonroeHamlin67.12108.02 NY 19; hamlet of Hamlin
ClarksonHamlin
town line
70.15112.90 NY 260
Hilton73.96119.03
NY 259 north
Northern terminus of NY 18 / NY 259 overlap
Parma76.05122.39
NY 259 south
Hamlet of Parma Center; southern terminus of NY 18 / NY 259 overlap
Greece
town line
78.07125.64
NY 261 north
Northern terminus of NY 18 / NY 261 overlap
78.41126.19
NY 261 south
Southern terminus of NY 18 / NY 261 overlap
Town of Greece
82.61132.95
NY 390 to Lake Ontario State Parkway
Exit 26 (NY 390); hamlet of Mount Read
83.67134.65Latta Road (
NY 941A
)
Western terminus of unsigned NY 941A
Rochester87.40140.66 NY 104Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "2008 Traffic Data Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. June 16, 2009. pp. 136–137. Retrieved January 12, 2010.
  2. ^ a b "New York's Main Highways Designated by Numbers". The New York Times. December 21, 1924. p. XX9.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j New York State Map (Map). Cartography by Map Works. I Love New York. 2008.
  4. ^ "Orleans County Inventory Listing" (CSV). New York State Department of Transportation. March 2, 2010. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  5. Exxon
    . 1977.
  6. ^ a b Braddock Heights Digital Raster Quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000. New York State Department of Transportation. 1997. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  7. ^ New York State Department of Transportation (January 2017). Official Description of Highway Touring Routes, Bicycling Touring Routes, Scenic Byways, & Commemorative/Memorial Designations in New York State (PDF). Retrieved January 9, 2017.
  8. ^ Rochester West Digital Raster Quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000. New York State Department of Transportation. 1997. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  9. ^ State of New York Department of Highways (1909). The Highway Law. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon Company. p. 60. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  10. ^ New York State Department of Highways (1920). Report of the State Commissioner of Highways. Albany, New York: J. B. Lyon Company. pp. 526–527. Retrieved May 20, 2010.
  11. State of New York Department of Public Works
    . 1926.
  12. ^ a b c Dickinson, Leon A. (January 12, 1930). "New Signs for State Highways". The New York Times. p. 136.
  13. Standard Oil Company of New York
    . 1929.
  14. ^ a b c d Road Map of New York (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Standard Oil Company of New York. 1930.
  15. ^
    Kendall Refining Company
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  16. ^ New York with Pennsylvania (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Texaco. 1946.
  17. ^ a b New York (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Sunoco. 1952.
  18. ^ New York and Metropolitan New York (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Sinclair Oil Corporation. 1964.
  19. ^
    Sun Oil Company
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  20. ^
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  22. ^
    Shell Oil Company
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  24. ^ a b Thibodeau, William A. (1938). The ALA Green Book (1938–39 ed.). Automobile Legal Association.
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  26. ^ a b c d Road Map of New York (Map). Cartography by Rand McNally and Company. Texas Oil Company. 1934.
  27. ^ a b "Highway Route Designations Change Jan. 1". Evening Recorder. Amsterdam, NY. Associated Press. December 9, 1948. p. 19.
  28. ^ New York with Special Maps of Putnam–Rockland–Westchester Counties and Finger Lakes Region (Map) (1955–56 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1954.
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  30. ^ a b c New York and Metropolitan New York (Map) (1961–62 ed.). Cartography by H.M. Gousha Company. Sunoco. 1961.
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  32. State of New York Department of Transportation (January 1, 1970). Official Description of Touring Routes in New York State
    (PDF). Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  33. ^ a b New York (Map) (1969–70 ed.). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1968.
  34. Gulf Oil Company
    . 1972.
  35. ^ New York (Map) (1973 ed.). Cartography by H.M. Gousha Company. Shell Oil Company. 1973.
  36. ^ New York State Department of Transportation (October 2004). Official Description of Highway Touring Routes, Scenic Byways, & Bicycle Routes in New York State (PDF). Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  37. Humble Oil & Refining Company
    . 1971.
  38. ^ Rochester East Digital Raster Quadrangle (Map). 1:24,000. New York State Department of Transportation. 1997. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  39. ^ Toth, Marilou (April 15, 1968). "Olcott Bridge Plan Recalls Succession Of Spans". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. p. 5. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  40. ^ a b Toth, Marilou (May 26, 1966). "Bridge-Harbor Updating Project Gaining Support In Olcott Area". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. p. 1. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  41. ^ Toth, Marilou (February 10, 1967). "Capacity Crowd Approves New Olcott Bridge Plans". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. p. 9. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  42. ^ Kielar, Evelyn (January 16, 1968). "Olcott Bridge Affects 67 Properties". The Niagara Falls Gazette. p. 12. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  43. ^ "Relocated $1.75-Million Bridge At Olcott Would Carry Four Lanes Across Creek". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. January 12, 1968. p. 1. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  44. ^ "$2.5 Million Is Bid For Olcott Project". The Courier-Express. June 21, 1968. p. 13. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  45. ^ LaSpada, S.J. (October 1968). "Work Under Way on $2.6 Million Bridge, Road Project In Olcott". The Niagara Falls Gazette. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  46. ^ "Work On New Olcott Bridge Running Ahead Of Schedule". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. April 26, 1969. p. 10. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  47. ^ "Olcott Bridge Construction Proceeding at 'Rapid Pace'". The Niagara Falls Gazette. May 1969. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  48. ^ Boone, Jerry F. (October 3, 1969). "Tardy Delivery Of Steel Fails To Halt Olcott Bridge Progress". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. p. 11. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  49. ^ "New $2.7 Million Olcott Bridge Progressing Ahead Of Schedule". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. July 30, 1970. p. 11. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  50. ^ "New Bridge At Olcott Open Monday". The Niagara Falls Gazette. November 7, 1970. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  51. ^ "Creek Limits Are Extended". The Niagara Falls Gazette. February 12, 1972. p. 7. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  52. ^ "Pilings Of Old Bridge Structure Perils Boating At Olcott Harbor". The Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. July 22, 1972. p. 9. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
  53. ^ "Weekly Report On Road Conditions In This District" (PDF). Lockport Union-Sun and Journal. June 10, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved December 16, 2018.
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  55. Standard Oil Company
    . 1937.
  56. Cities Service Company. 1960. Archived from the original
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External links

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