New York State Route 78

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Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Lockport
Length73.49 mi[1] (118.27 km)
Existed1930[2]–present
Major junctions
South end NY 19 near Gainesville village
Major intersections
North end NY 18 in Olcott
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNew York
CountiesWyoming, Erie, Niagara
Highway system
I-78
NY 79

New York State Route 78 (NY 78) is a 73.49-mile-long (118.27 km)

Lockport
.

The section of NY 78 between

NY 422
. Two realignments in the 1930s moved the route onto its modern alignment, and NY 78's original routing between East Aurora and Depew was briefly designated NY 78A during the mid-1930s.

Route description

Wyoming County

NY 78 begins at an intersection with

CR 4 (Hermitage Road).[3]

NY 78 southbound at the junction with the northern terminus of NY 362 in Wethersfield

After the hamlet of Wethersfield, NY 78 continues southwest, crossing through rural farms as a two-lane roadway, intersecting with the southern terminus of

CR 11 (East Arcade Road).[3]

Now in the town of

wrong-way concurrency through the town of Java, running as a two-lane residential street through dense woods and wide fields. Continuing west through Java, NY 78 and NY 98 cross over a railroad line and enter the hamlet of Java Center. In Java Center, NY 78 and NY 98 intersect with the southern terminus of NY 77 (Cattaraugus Road). This intersection also doubles as the terminus of the NY 78 and NY 98 concurrency as NY 98 proceeds south on NY 77's right-of-way.[3]

NY 78 southbound along the wrong-way concurrency through Java Center with NY 98 northbound

NY 78 bends northwest on Main Street and out of Java Center as a two-lane rural roadway through the town of Java. The route soon drops the Main Street moniker, winding northwest into an intersection with

CR 35 (Dutch Hollow Road).[3]

After CR 35, NY 78 bends northwest out of Strykersville, crossing into the rural sections of Sheldon surrounding the hamlet. Near the intersection with Chester Street, NY 78 crosses the county line into Erie County and into the town of Wales.[3]

Erie County

Wales to West Seneca

Now in the Erie County town of Wales, NY 78 changes monikers from Main Street to Strykersville Road, paralleling

CR 385 (Schang Road). The two-lane rural roadway remains the same for several miles to the northwest, crossing an intersection with CR 382 (Hunters Creek Road).[3]

NY 78 southbound in Strykersville

Continuing northwest through Wales, NY 78 remains a two-lane rural street known as Strykersville Road until intersecting with

CR 6 (Pine Street).[3]

NY 16 joins the US 20A and NY 78 concurrency as it proceeds west on Main Street, becoming the main commercial thoroughfare through the village. The routes cross over railroad tracks in the center of East Aurora, returning to the residential street it was earlier, which reverts at Center Street. Several blocks to the west, US 20A, NY 16 and NY 78 enter a

CR 572 (Buffalo Street) and proceed northwest out of the village. Now in the town of Aurora once again, NY 16, NY 78 and CR 572 proceed northwest past Knox Farm State Park, intersecting with CR 377 (Williardshire Road). At CR 377, the moniker changes from Buffalo Street to Seneca Street as NY 16, NY 78 and CR 572 enter the town of Elma.[3]

Passing the town water tower, NY 16, NY 78 and CR 572 proceed northwest through Elma as a two-lane commercial and residential road, intersecting with the western terminus of

CR 140 (Rice Road) and CR 362 (North Davis Road).[3]

Paralleling

CR 95 (Pound Road). The route remains a two-lane residential road for a distance, soon bending further northwestward into the town of West Seneca. In West Seneca, the three routes intersect with US 20 (Transit Road). At this intersection, NY 78 turns north onto a concurrency with US 20 while NY 16 proceeds northwest along CR 215. This junction serves as the northern terminus of CR 572. Now concurrent with US 20, NY 78 runs north along Transit Road as a four-lane commercial boulevard, quickly entering a cloverleaf interchange with NY 400 (the Aurora Expressway) once again.[3]

Transit Road

US 20 and NY 78, eastbound and northbound, respectively, at the interchange with NY 400 in West Seneca

US 20 and NY 78 proceed northward along Transit Road, remaining a major commercial thoroughfare street serving the eastern suburbs of

Cheektowaga and Lancaster, and Amherst and Clarence, respectively, except for a brief period where it passes through the Village of Depew, which straddles the Cheektowaga-Lancaster line. [5][6][7]

After an intersection with

CR 321 (French Road).[3]

Passing several

CR 523 (Como Park Boulevard). Paralleling Cayuga Creek to the west, US 20 and NY 78 become a four-lane commercial boulevard again. A short distance later, the routes cross over Cayuga Creek and enter an intersection with the western terminus of NY 130 (Broadway). At this junction, NY 78 continues north on Transit Road, while US 20 turns east onto Broadway through the village of Depew.[3]

Continuing north on Transit Road, NY 78 becomes a four-lane commercial boulevard through Depew, crossing over railroad tracks owned by

CR 161 (Pleasant View Drive).[3]

NY 78 and Transit Road remain four lanes, passing several commercial businesses and entering an intersection with

CR 290 and CR 275), transit road serves as the town line of Amherst to the west and Clarence to the east until the Erie County line.[3]

Looking north along Transit Road through Amherst from the Sheridan Drive (NY 324) overpass

North of Wehrle Drive, Transit Road widens to six and then eight lanes wide as it passes through a dense commercial shopping distance along the Amherst-Clarence town line until

CR 37 (Greiner Road).[3]

Remaining a four-lane boulevard, NY 78 and Transit Road passes east of

CR 299 (North French Road) and CR 282 (Country Road). Soon entering the hamlet of Swormville, NY 78 and Transit Road remain a four-lane commercial boulevard through Amherst and Clarence. After Swormville, NY 78 and Transit Road become residential, soon becoming two lanes for the first time since West Seneca.[3]

NY 78 southbound in Swormville

Crossing north along the Amherst-Clarence line still, NY 78 and Transit Road becomes a mix of commercial and residential, passing large sections of fields north of Swormville. A short distance to the north, NY 78 intersects with the northern terminus of

CR 559) that also doubled as the former intersection with NY 268,[4] NY 78 and Transit Road widen to four lanes and cross over Tonawanda Creek into Niagara County.[3]

Niagara County

After crossing Tonawanda Creek, NY 78 and Transit Road enter the town of

CR 60 (both North Tonawanda Creek Road), NY 78 and Transit Road continue north as the four-lane commercial boulevard through Lockport. The route remains four lanes, but becomes a boulevard through wide fields for a distance, passing runway 28 of North Buffalo Suburban Airport. Now in the town of Pendleton for a short distance, NY 78 and Transit Road cross through a long stretch of fields, becoming a commercial boulevard to the north.[3]

NY 78 through Lockport

After an intersection with

Lockport. Now a four-lane commercial boulevard, it passes several strip malls along South Transit Road. Now in the South Lockport hamlet outside of the city, in the town of Lockport, NY 78 and South Transit Road continue north, passing several stretches of residences.[3]

The route becomes a residential/commercial mix as it passes through the city of Lockport, passing Altro Park before entering the center of the city. In the center of the city, NY 78 intersects with NY 31 (West Genesee Street and Walnut Street) just over the Erie Canal. At this junction, NY 78 changes monikers to North Transit Street, becoming a two-lane residential street north of the city center. Crossing over an ex-Erie Railroad line, the route intersects with Grand Street, where NY 78 turns east off North Transit Street onto Grand. East on Grand Street, NY 78 intersects with Clinton Street, where NY 78 turns north. Passing northeast of Upson Park, NY 78 continues northeast through Lockport on Clinton Street. The route becomes a two-lane residential street, passing Dolan Park and turning north on Lake Avenue.[3]

NY 78 through the hamlet of Newfane

Crossing back into the town of Lockport, NY 78 continues north along Lake Avenue, intersecting with

CR 7 (Slayton Settlement Road), NY 78 enters the Ridgelea Heights section of Lockport, crossing over the East Branch and west of Oak Run Golf Club. After the golf club, NY 78 expands to four lanes in the town of Newfane. In Newfane, NY 78 intersects with NY 104 east (Ridge Road) in the hamlet of Wrights Corners. NY 78 and NY 104 become concurrent northbound, becoming a four-lane commercial boulevard through the hamlet.[3]

A short distance to the north, NY 78 and NY 104 fork in different directions, with NY 104 following Ridge Road to the northeast and NY 78 running along Lockport–Olcott Road to the northwest. Still in the town of Newfane, NY 78 proceeds northwest as a four-lane (quickly changing to two-lane) residential street. The route passes east of Bent-Wing Airport, continuing northwest through Newfane. The route remains residential for a distance, crossing over a brook on its way into the hamlet of Corwin. In Corwin, NY 78 remains a two-lane residential road, crossing over

CR 105 (Hatter Road). While winding northwest, the route soon enters the hamlet of Newfane.[3]

Signage denoting the end of NY 78 northbound at NY 18 in the hamlet of Olcott

Through the hamlet of Newfane, NY 78 winds northwest along Eighteenmile Creek, intersecting with

CR 104
(Ide Road)'s eastern terminus. Now running alongside the creek, NY 78 continues north through the town of Newfane, passing west of a public golf course, remaining a two-lane residential road through town.

After crossing the eastern terminus of

CR 52 (Wilson–Burt Road), NY 78 continues north through the town of Newfane, entering the hamlet of Burt.[3] Through Burt, the route passes a former railroad grade at Railroad Avenue and passes east of Fisherman's Park. Continuing north, NY 78 enters the hamlet of Olcott. In Olcott, NY 78 retains the name of Lockport–Olcott Road, becoming a two-lane residential road. The route soon bends northwest, intersecting with NY 18 (Lake Road) on the shore of Eighteenmile Creek. This intersection serves as the northern terminus of NY 78, while the right-of-way continues north as Lockport Street, which terminates at the shore of Lake Ontario.[3]

History

The north–south roadway connecting

Gainesville in the south to Olcott in the north, mostly along existing but previously unnumbered roads. However, the portion between NY 362 and NY 19 was in the process of being built.[10] NY 78's early routing was identical to its modern alignment except from East Aurora to Depew. Initially, NY 78 headed north from East Aurora to Lancaster by way of Maple Street, Jamison and Bowen roads, and Clinton (NY 354) and Aurora streets before following NY 35 west to Transit Road in Depew.[11]

NY 78 was realigned c. 1932 to follow

overlap with NY 16 northwest from East Aurora to its junction with Transit Road in West Seneca. The realignment bypassed the southernmost portion of Transit Road,[14][15] which became NY 187 in the early 1940s.[4][16]

NY 78A

New York State Route 78A marker

New York State Route 78A

LocationEast AuroraLancaster village
Existedc. 1932[12][13]c. 1938[14][17]

NY 78A was an alternate route of NY 78 in Erie County between NY 78 in East Aurora and NY 35 (now US 20) in Lancaster. The route began at the modern intersection of Main (then-US 20) and Maple streets in East Aurora and followed Maple Street, Jamison and Bowen roads, and Clinton (NY 354) and Aurora streets to a terminus at Broadway (NY 35) in Lancaster. It was assigned c. 1932 after NY 78 was rerouted to follow US 20 and Transit Road instead between East Aurora and Depew.[12][13] The NY 78A designation was short-lived as it was removed c. 1938.[14][17] Its routing is now part of several county routes as well as NY 354.

Major intersections

CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Town of Gainesville
0.000.00 NY 19 – Warsaw, GainesvilleSouthern terminus
Wethersfield6.6710.73
NY 362 south – Bliss
Northern terminus of NY 362
overlap
15.1924.45

Java Center
; western terminus of NY 78 / NY 98 overlap; southern terminus of NY 77
US 20A east (Big Tree Road) – Warsaw
Eastern terminus of US 20A / NY 78 overlap
Town of Aurora
30.0148.30
NY 400 north (Aurora Expressway) – Buffalo
Interchange
East Aurora30.7649.50
NY 16 south (Olean Road)
Eastern terminus of NY 16 / NY 78 overlap
31.8251.21
US 20A
west (Hamburg Street)
Western terminus of US 20A / NY 78 overlap
NY 422
ElmaWest Seneca
town line
37.3660.13

US 20 west (Transit Road) / NY 16 north (Seneca Street)
Western terminus of NY 16 / NY 78 overlap; southern terminus of US 20 / NY 78 overlap
37.8660.93 NY 400 (Aurora Expressway) – East Aurora, BuffaloInterchange
39.6563.81 NY 354 (Clinton Street)
Depew42.5568.48

US 20 east / NY 130 west (Broadway)
Northern terminus of US 20 / NY 78 overlap; eastern terminus of NY 130
LancasterCheektowaga
town line
45.0472.48 NY 33 (Genesee Street)Hamlet of Bowmansville
45.6773.50
I-90 Toll / New York Thruway – Buffalo, Albany
Exit 49 (I-90 / Thruway)
ClarenceAmherst
town line
46.9475.54 NY 5 (Main Street)
47.9277.12 NY 324 (Sheridan Drive) – Niagara Falls
54.9988.50
NY 263 south (Millersport Highway)
Hamlet of Millersport; northern terminus of NY 263
NiagaraLockportPendleton
town line
58.4594.07 NY 93 (Robinson Road)Hamlet of South Lockport
City of Lockport
60.9398.06 NY 31 (West Genesee Street / Walnut Street)
LockportNewfane
town line
65.07104.72
NY 104 west (Ridge Road) – Lewiston
Hamlet of Wrights Corners; southern terminus of NY 78 / NY 104 overlap
Town of Newfane
65.38105.22
NY 104 east (Ridge Road) – Rochester
Northern terminus of NY 78 / NY 104 overlap
73.49118.27 NY 18 (Lake Road) – Wilson, Youngstown, RochesterNorthern terminus; hamlet of Olcott
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "2008 Traffic Volume Report for New York State" (PDF). New York State Department of Transportation. June 16, 2009. pp. 131–133. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Dickinson, Leon A. (January 12, 1930). "New Signs for State Highways". The New York Times. p. 136.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Microsoft; Nokia (July 3, 2012). "overview map of NY 78" (Map). Bing Maps. Microsoft. Retrieved July 3, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c New York (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1940.
  5. ^ "Town of Amherst Maps" (PDF).
  6. ^ "West Seneca Aerial Map" (PDF).
  7. ^ "Town of Lancaster Comprehensive Plan".
  8. ^ "New York's Main Highways Designated by Numbers". The New York Times. December 21, 1924. p. XX9.
  9. State of New York Department of Public Works
    . 1926.
  10. 1930 renumbering
  11. Standard Oil Company of New York
    . 1930.
  12. ^
    Kendall Refining Company
    . 1931.
  13. ^
    Texas Oil Company
    . 1932.
  14. ^ a b c Thibodeau, William A. (1938). The ALA Green Book (1938–39 ed.). Automobile Legal Association.
  15. Standard Oil Company
    . 1939.
  16. ^ New York with Pictorial Guide (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Esso. 1942.
  17. ^ a b New York (Map). Cartography by General Drafting. Standard Oil Company. 1937.

External links

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