Interstate 590
Encyclopedia
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 5.07 miles (8.16 km) from an interchange with I-390
in Brighton
to the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490
(the Eastern Expressway) just inside the Rochester city line. I-590 makes up the southeast quadrant of the Rochester Outer Loop, which continues west on I-390 and north past the Can of Worms on New York State Route 590 (NY 590). The highway is a spur route of I-90
; the connection between the two is made via both I-390 and I-490.
The portion of I-590 between Winton Road and the Can of Worms was originally constructed in the 1960s and designated as part of NY 47
from Elmwood Avenue northward. In the late 1970s, I-590 was proposed as a designation for the entire southern half of the Outer Loop. Ultimately, it was cut back to its current western terminus at the then-proposed I-390. I-590 was officially assigned in 1980 following the elimination of NY 47, and the last segment of the freeway between Winton Road and I-390 was completed by the following year.
in the town of Brighton
, a southern suburb of the city of Rochester
. The route heads east from the junction, passing under South Clinton Avenue (which passes through the east half of the interchange but does not connect to either freeway) and traveling east through open fields to its first interchange at South Winton Road. Here, the surroundings rapidly change from fields to densely populated residential areas as it passes through a more developed section of Brighton. As it approaches NY 31
(Monroe Avenue) at exit 2, I-590 turns a full 90 degrees to the north. Past NY 31, I-590 runs through the former Erie Canal
and Rochester Subway
bed.
The freeway travels due north along this stretch, flanked on both sides by residential neighborhoods separated from I-590 only by sound barriers. Not far to the north of the intersection with NY 31 is exit 3, a partial diamond interchange
for Elmwood Avenue permitting access from I-590 south and to I-590 north. Prior to 1980, NY 47
entered the freeway at this point and followed both I-590 and NY 590
north to Sea Breeze. Another partial interchange with Highland Avenue follows at exit 4—making the two connections that exit 3 omits—before I-590 enters the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490
. North of the ramps leading to I-490, I-590 descends northeastward into a cut and passes below both I-490 and NY 96
as it becomes NY 590, which continues onward toward Sea Breeze.
area as early as 1977 as a designation for the portion of the Rochester Outer Loop south of I-490
. At the time, only two portions of the loop—from I-490 in Gates
southeast to NY 383
in Chili
and from Winton Road in Brighton
to I-490 in Rochester—were complete and open to traffic. The western portion was constructed ca. 1965 and designated as part of NY 47
. The eastern section, which opened from Monroe Avenue (NY 31
) to the Can of Worms ca. 1965 and from NY 31 west to Winton Road by 1968, was part of NY 47 between Elmwood Avenue and I-490. South of Elmwood Avenue, the expressway had no signed number as the Federal Highway Administration
had yet to assign the I-590 designation. Construction on the missing section of the Outer Loop's southern half began in the late 1970s.
Around the same time, the state of New York began to look into the possibility of changing the designations that were assigned to the Outer Loop. In one proposal submitted to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
in the late 1970s, I-590 would be truncated to begin at the then-proposed junction with I-390
in Brighton but also extended northward along the Sea Breeze Expressway to NY 104
in Irondequoit
. The rest of the loop south of I-490, meanwhile, would become part of an extended I-390. NY 47, the then-current designation for much of the Outer Loop, would be eliminated entirely. Most of the plans went into effect when the NY 47 designation was eliminated on March 18, 1980. The southern half of the Outer Loop was signed as planned; however, I-390 and I-590 were modified to end at their junctions with I-490. The section of I-590 from Winton Road to I-390—as well as the interchange connecting the two—was completed ca. 1981.
|rowspan=5|Brighton
|0.00
|
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|1.41
|1
|Winton Road
|
|-
|3.04
|2
|
|No access from eastbound NY 31 to I-590 north
|-
|3.75
|3
|Elmwood Avenue
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|4.46
|4
|Highland Avenue
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|Rochester
|rowspan=2|5.07
|5
|
|Can of Worms
|-
|
|
|Continuation beyond I-490
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. It extends for 5.07 miles (8.16 km) from an interchange with I-390
Interstate 390
Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...
in 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 Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490
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...
(the Eastern Expressway) just inside the Rochester city line. I-590 makes up the southeast quadrant of the Rochester Outer Loop, which continues west on I-390 and north past the Can of Worms on New York State Route 590 (NY 590). The highway is a spur route of I-90
Interstate 90 in New York
Interstate 90 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Seattle, Washington, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, I-90 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line at Canaan...
; the connection between the two is made via both I-390 and I-490.
The portion of I-590 between Winton Road and the Can of Worms was originally constructed in the 1960s and designated as part 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...
from Elmwood Avenue northward. In the late 1970s, I-590 was proposed as a designation for the entire southern half of the Outer Loop. Ultimately, it was cut back to its current western terminus at the then-proposed I-390. I-590 was officially assigned in 1980 following the elimination of NY 47, and the last segment of the freeway between Winton Road and I-390 was completed by the following year.
Route description
I-590 begins at a semi-directional T interchange with I-390Interstate 390
Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...
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...
, a southern suburb of 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...
. The route heads east from the junction, passing under South Clinton Avenue (which passes through the east half of the interchange but does not connect to either freeway) and traveling east through open fields to its first interchange at South Winton Road. Here, the surroundings rapidly change from fields to densely populated residential areas as it passes through a more developed section of Brighton. As it approaches NY 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
(Monroe Avenue) at exit 2, I-590 turns a full 90 degrees to the north. Past NY 31, I-590 runs through the former Erie Canal
Erie Canal
The Erie Canal is a waterway in New York that runs about from Albany, New York, on the Hudson River to Buffalo, New York, at Lake Erie, completing a navigable water route from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes. The canal contains 36 locks and encompasses a total elevation differential of...
and Rochester Subway
Rochester Subway
The Rochester Subway or Rochester Industrial and Rapid Transit Railway was an underground rapid transit line in the city of Rochester, New York from 1927 to 1956. Contemporary photos show it used single streetcars, like Boston's Green Line, as a light rail line, with a large portion underground...
bed.
The freeway travels due north along this stretch, flanked on both sides by residential neighborhoods separated from I-590 only by sound barriers. Not far to the north of the intersection with NY 31 is exit 3, a partial diamond interchange
Diamond interchange
A diamond interchange is a common type of road junction, used where a freeway crosses a minor road. The freeway itself is grade-separated from the minor road, one crossing the other over a bridge...
for Elmwood Avenue permitting access from I-590 south and to I-590 north. Prior to 1980, 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...
entered the freeway at this point and followed both I-590 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 to Sea Breeze. Another partial interchange with Highland Avenue follows at exit 4—making the two connections that exit 3 omits—before I-590 enters the Can of Worms, a complex interchange connecting I-590 to I-490
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...
. North of the ramps leading to I-490, I-590 descends northeastward into a cut and passes below both I-490 and 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...
as it becomes NY 590, which continues onward toward Sea Breeze.
History
I-590 appeared on maps of the RochesterRochester, 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...
area as early as 1977 as a designation for the portion of the Rochester Outer Loop south of I-490
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...
. At the time, only two portions of the loop—from I-490 in Gates
Gates, New York
Gates is a town in Monroe County, New York. The town is named after General Horatio Gates. The population was 28,400 at the 2010 census. Gates-North Gates census-designated place is located within the town's boundaries....
southeast to NY 383
New York State Route 383
New York State Route 383 is an north–south state highway in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 36 in the hamlet of Mumford within the town of Wheatland. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 31 in...
in Chili
Chili, New York
Chili is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 28,625 at the 2010 census. It is a suburb of the city of Rochester.The Town of Chili was established in 1822 from part of the Town of Riga....
and from Winton Road in 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 I-490 in Rochester—were complete and open to traffic. The western portion was constructed ca. 1965 and designated as part 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...
. The eastern section, which opened from Monroe Avenue (NY 31
New York State Route 31
New York State Route 31 is a state highway that extends for across western and central New York in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 104 in the city of Niagara Falls. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle with NY 26 in Vernon...
) to the Can of Worms ca. 1965 and from NY 31 west to Winton Road by 1968, was part of NY 47 between Elmwood Avenue and I-490. South of Elmwood Avenue, the expressway had no signed number as the Federal Highway Administration
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two "programs," the Federal-aid Highway Program and the Federal Lands Highway Program...
had yet to assign the I-590 designation. Construction on the missing section of the Outer Loop's southern half began in the late 1970s.
Around the same time, the state of New York began to look into the possibility of changing the designations that were assigned to the Outer Loop. In one proposal submitted to the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
AASHTO, the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, is a standards setting body which publishes specifications, test protocols and guidelines which are used in highway design and construction throughout the United States...
in the late 1970s, I-590 would be truncated to begin at the then-proposed junction with I-390
Interstate 390
Interstate 390 is a north–south auxiliary Interstate Highway located entirely within New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the Southern Tier Expressway in the town of Avoca. Its northern terminus is at I-490 in Rochester...
in Brighton but also extended northward along the Sea Breeze Expressway to NY 104
New York State Route 104
New York State Route 104 is a long east–west state highway in Upstate New York, United States. It spans six counties and enters the vicinity of four cities—Niagara Falls, Lockport, Rochester, and Oswego—as it follows a routing largely parallel to that of the southern shoreline of Lake...
in 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...
. The rest of the loop south of I-490, meanwhile, would become part of an extended I-390. NY 47, the then-current designation for much of the Outer Loop, would be eliminated entirely. Most of the plans went into effect when the NY 47 designation was eliminated on March 18, 1980. The southern half of the Outer Loop was signed as planned; however, I-390 and I-590 were modified to end at their junctions with I-490. The section of I-590 from Winton Road to I-390—as well as the interchange connecting the two—was completed ca. 1981.
Exit list
|-|rowspan=5|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...
|0.00
|
|
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|1.41
|1
|Winton Road
|
|-
|3.04
|2
|
|No access from eastbound NY 31 to I-590 north
|-
|3.75
|3
|Elmwood Avenue
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|4.46
|4
|Highland Avenue
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|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...
|rowspan=2|5.07
|5
|
|Can of Worms
|-
|
|
|Continuation beyond I-490