Can of Worms
Encyclopedia
The Can of Worms is the local name for the intersection of Interstate 490
(I-490), I-590
, New York State Route 590 (NY 590), NY 96
(East Avenue), and University Avenue on the east side of Rochester, New York
, in the United States. The junction was built during the 1950s and 1960s as part of the Rochester Outer Loop's construction, and rebuilt in the late 1980s to eliminate weaving caused by the interchange's original design. Although the reconstruction eliminated many of the issues, the Can of Worms name stuck and is still used locally.
to I-590
south and NY 590
north. NY 590 and I-590 approach I-490 at points roughly 2000 feet (609.6 m) apart, resulting in the unorthodox design of the junction. Other movements at the junction connect NY 96
to I-490 eastbound by way of a ramp immediately south of the main junction and link I-490 westbound to NY 96 by way of the adjacent exit 20, which utilizes University Avenue. The Can of Worms is exit 21 on I-490 and exit 5 on I-590 and NY 590.
The interchange is bounded on all sides by commercial and residential developments in the town of Brighton
to the east and the city of Rochester
to the west. Additionally, the CSX Transportation
-owned Rochester Subdivision
railroad line traverses the northern half of the interchange, passing over NY 590 and the onramp linking I-490 westbound to NY 590 northbound and under the flyover that connects NY 590 south to I-490. NY 96, meanwhile, goes through the center of the junction, crossing over I-590 but passing under I-490.
, then known as the Eastern Expressway, was built across eastern Monroe County
in the late 1950s. At the same time, the Sea Breeze Expressway was constructed southward from Irondequoit
to meet the Eastern Expressway in Rochester. The Sea Breeze Expressway and I-490 were connected ca. 1961 by way of a directional T interchange. Ca. 1965, another directional T interchange was built on the western edge of the first to connect I-490 to a new freeway leading to Brighton
(now I-590
). Local legend relates that on viewing the plans for the combined interchanges, an engineer named Samuel Milley was said "You want me to build that? It looks like a [expletive] can of worms!". The term came into common use, probably via local media, and eventually was marked on local streetmaps.
Due to the close proximity of the two junctions, traffic proceeding east–west on I-490 was required to merge across traffic coming off of NY 47
(later redesignated as I-590 and NY 590) in a reduced 40 miles per hour (17.9 m/s) speed zone in order to continue on the same highway. In an effort to resolve this issue, the intersection was rebuilt from 1988 to 1991. Paradoxically, the new intersection is actually more complex than the previous one, in the sense that there are now more ramps connecting the two highways than before. However, the new design eliminated weaving on I-490 and created a dedicated roadway for traffic traveling onto I-590 from NY 590 and vice versa.
In the years since the reconstruction, the Can of Worms name has remained in local parlance, typically as a descriptor for the modern junction during traffic reports. Its name is also invoked when other traffic issues in the area are discussed in the local media—such as a lane re-striping on NY 590 in Irondequoit that generated a significant amount of controversy in 2010—a reference to the problems that once plagued the 490/590 interchange.
Interstate 490 (New York)
Interstate 490 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It acts as a northerly alternate route to the New York State Thruway , leaving it at exit 47 in the town of Le Roy and rejoining the highway at exit 45 in the town of...
(I-490), I-590
Interstate 590
Interstate 590 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the immediate southeastern suburbs of the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with I-390 in Brighton to the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490...
, New York State Route 590 (NY 590), NY 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
(East Avenue), and University Avenue on the east side of Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
, in the United States. The junction was built during the 1950s and 1960s as part of the Rochester Outer Loop's construction, and rebuilt in the late 1980s to eliminate weaving caused by the interchange's original design. Although the reconstruction eliminated many of the issues, the Can of Worms name stuck and is still used locally.
Description
The Can of Worms is a modified double semi-directional T interchange that connects the east–west I-490Interstate 490 (New York)
Interstate 490 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It acts as a northerly alternate route to the New York State Thruway , leaving it at exit 47 in the town of Le Roy and rejoining the highway at exit 45 in the town of...
to I-590
Interstate 590
Interstate 590 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the immediate southeastern suburbs of the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with I-390 in Brighton to the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490...
south and NY 590
New York State Route 590
New York State Route 590 is a north–south state highway located in the eastern suburbs of Rochester, New York, in the United States...
north. NY 590 and I-590 approach I-490 at points roughly 2000 feet (609.6 m) apart, resulting in the unorthodox design of the junction. Other movements at the junction connect NY 96
New York State Route 96
New York State Route 96 is a northwest–southeast state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the Southern Tier village of Owego, Tioga County. Its northern terminus is at a junction with...
to I-490 eastbound by way of a ramp immediately south of the main junction and link I-490 westbound to NY 96 by way of the adjacent exit 20, which utilizes University Avenue. The Can of Worms is exit 21 on I-490 and exit 5 on I-590 and NY 590.
The interchange is bounded on all sides by commercial and residential developments in the town of Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
to the east and the city of Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
to the west. Additionally, the CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
-owned Rochester Subdivision
Rochester Subdivision
The Rochester Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of New York. The line runs from Syracuse west to Buffalo along the former New York Central Railroad main line. At its east end, west of downtown Syracuse, the line becomes the Mohawk Subdivision...
railroad line traverses the northern half of the interchange, passing over NY 590 and the onramp linking I-490 westbound to NY 590 northbound and under the flyover that connects NY 590 south to I-490. NY 96, meanwhile, goes through the center of the junction, crossing over I-590 but passing under I-490.
History
I-490Interstate 490 (New York)
Interstate 490 is an auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It acts as a northerly alternate route to the New York State Thruway , leaving it at exit 47 in the town of Le Roy and rejoining the highway at exit 45 in the town of...
, then known as the Eastern Expressway, was built across eastern Monroe County
Monroe County, New York
Monroe County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 744,344. It is named after James Monroe, fifth President of the United States of America. Its county seat is the city of Rochester....
in the late 1950s. At the same time, the Sea Breeze Expressway was constructed southward from Irondequoit
Irondequoit, New York
Irondequoit is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. As of the 2010 census, the coterminous town-CDP had a total population of 51,692...
to meet the Eastern Expressway in Rochester. The Sea Breeze Expressway and I-490 were connected ca. 1961 by way of a directional T interchange. Ca. 1965, another directional T interchange was built on the western edge of the first to connect I-490 to a new freeway leading to Brighton
Brighton, Monroe County, New York
Brighton is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 36,609 at the 2010 census.-History:The Town of Brighton, located on the southeast border of the city of Rochester, was originally settled approximately 1790, and formally established in 1814—earning it recognition as one...
(now I-590
Interstate 590
Interstate 590 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway that serves the immediate southeastern suburbs of the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with I-390 in Brighton to the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490...
). Local legend relates that on viewing the plans for the combined interchanges, an engineer named Samuel Milley was said "You want me to build that? It looks like a [expletive] can of worms!". The term came into common use, probably via local media, and eventually was marked on local streetmaps.
Due to the close proximity of the two junctions, traffic proceeding east–west on I-490 was required to merge across traffic coming off of NY 47
New York State Route 47
New York State Route 47 was a long state highway around Rochester in New York, United States. It formed a semicircle through the inner suburbs of Rochester, following expressways west and east of the city and surface streets south of Rochester. The western terminus of the route was at an...
(later redesignated as I-590 and NY 590) in a reduced 40 miles per hour (17.9 m/s) speed zone in order to continue on the same highway. In an effort to resolve this issue, the intersection was rebuilt from 1988 to 1991. Paradoxically, the new intersection is actually more complex than the previous one, in the sense that there are now more ramps connecting the two highways than before. However, the new design eliminated weaving on I-490 and created a dedicated roadway for traffic traveling onto I-590 from NY 590 and vice versa.
In the years since the reconstruction, the Can of Worms name has remained in local parlance, typically as a descriptor for the modern junction during traffic reports. Its name is also invoked when other traffic issues in the area are discussed in the local media—such as a lane re-striping on NY 590 in Irondequoit that generated a significant amount of controversy in 2010—a reference to the problems that once plagued the 490/590 interchange.