Interstate 895 (New York)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 895 named the Arthur V. Sheridan Expressway, is a short freeway in the New York City
borough of the Bronx
, forming a short connecting link in the Interstate Highway System
. Its south end is at a merge with the Bruckner Expressway
(I-278) in the Hunts Point
neighborhood, and its north end is at the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95), with a short continuation connecting with local West Farms
streets. The highway opened to traffic in 1962 and received its current Interstate route designation in 1970. It was named for the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works, who died in a motor car crash in 1952.
, in the Hunts Point
neighborhood of the Bronx. The 6-lane highway heads northward, parallelling the Bronx River
and the Amtrak
-owned Northeast Corridor
railroad tracks. There is a lone interchange, which is for Westchester Avenue, at 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) in. A frontage road
begins to parallel the roadway until it terminates at a cul-de-sac
in East Tremont. The Sheridan crosses over East 174th Street and officially ends at an interchange with the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in East Tremont. The roadway continues beyond the Cross Bronx as a short connector to local West Farms
streets.
. Construction began in 1958 and in October 1962, the $9.5 million expressway was opened to traffic.
Over the years, the expressway has received a number of Interstate designations. It was originally designated as I-695 in late 1958. In early 1959, the highway designation was changed to I-895. Later that year, however, I-278 was rerouted to use the Sheridan Expressway. This was the designation of the highway when it opened in 1962. On January 1, 1970, I-278 was realigned to follow the Bruckner Expressway
east to the Bruckner Interchange
while the Sheridan Expressway was redesignated as I-895.
The Sheridan Expressway was originally planned to extend northeast to the Bruckner Expressway (I-95) at Co-op City
, creating a shortcut toward New England
. This extension was, however, cancelled. Because of the cancellation of the extension, the Sheridan is locally seen as a useless stub, serving the same movements as the Major Deegan Expressway
(I-87) and Bronx River Parkway
.
(NYSDOT) proposed expanding the highway in 1997. The plan faced opposition rooted in claims of environmental justice
from community groups, which proposed an alternative calling for the river-front expressway to be replaced with affordable housing, schools and green space.
In August 2008 the alternative community plan was under consideration by NYSDOT. The plan gained momentum in July 2010. However, the state opposed the plan to demolish the highway, citing a study showing that local traffic would be worsened. The dispute between the local community and the state DOT has led to a stalemate
, what the Daily News called a "crossroads" and "a road to nowhere".
. All exits are unnumbered.
{| class="wikitable"
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Mile
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Hunts Point
|0.00
||
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|0.61
|Westchester Avenue – Hunts Point Market
|No southbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|West Farms
|rowspan=2|1.29
|
|No northbound entrance
|-
|East 177th Street
|Continuation beyond I-95
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
borough of the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
, forming a short connecting link in the Interstate Highway System
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
. Its south end is at a merge with the Bruckner Expressway
Bruckner Expressway
The Bruckner Expressway is a freeway in The Bronx. It carries Interstate 278 and Interstate 95 from the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to the south end of the New England Thruway at the Pelham Parkway interchange....
(I-278) in the Hunts Point
Hunts Point, Bronx
Hunts Point is a low-income neighborhood located on a peninsula in the South Bronx in New York City. It is the location of one of the largest food distribution facilities in the world. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 2. Its boundaries are the Bruckner Expressway to the west and...
neighborhood, and its north end is at the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95), with a short continuation connecting with local West Farms
West Farms, Bronx
West Farms is a residential neighborhood in a west central part of The Bronx, New York City, also known as the northeast corner of the South Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 6...
streets. The highway opened to traffic in 1962 and received its current Interstate route designation in 1970. It was named for the Bronx Borough Commissioner of Public Works, who died in a motor car crash in 1952.
Route description
Interstate 895 begins at exit 49 on Interstate 278, also known as the Bruckner ExpresswayBruckner Expressway
The Bruckner Expressway is a freeway in The Bronx. It carries Interstate 278 and Interstate 95 from the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to the south end of the New England Thruway at the Pelham Parkway interchange....
, in the Hunts Point
Hunts Point, Bronx
Hunts Point is a low-income neighborhood located on a peninsula in the South Bronx in New York City. It is the location of one of the largest food distribution facilities in the world. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 2. Its boundaries are the Bruckner Expressway to the west and...
neighborhood of the Bronx. The 6-lane highway heads northward, parallelling the Bronx River
Bronx River
The Bronx River, approximately long, flows through southeast New York in the United States. It is named after colonial settler Jonas Bronck. The Bronx River is the only fresh water river in New York City....
and the Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
-owned Northeast Corridor
Northeast Corridor
The Northeast Corridor is a fully electrified railway line owned primarily by Amtrak serving the Northeast megalopolis of the United States from Boston in the north, via New York to Washington, D.C. in the south, with branches serving other cities...
railroad tracks. There is a lone interchange, which is for Westchester Avenue, at 0.6 mile (0.965604 km) in. A frontage road
Frontage road
A frontage road is a non-limited access road running parallel to a higher-speed road, usually a freeway, and feeding it at appropriate points of access...
begins to parallel the roadway until it terminates at a cul-de-sac
Cul-de-sac
A cul-de-sac is a word of French origin referring to a dead end, close, no through road or court meaning dead-end street with only one inlet/outlet...
in East Tremont. The Sheridan crosses over East 174th Street and officially ends at an interchange with the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in East Tremont. The roadway continues beyond the Cross Bronx as a short connector to local West Farms
West Farms, Bronx
West Farms is a residential neighborhood in a west central part of The Bronx, New York City, also known as the northeast corner of the South Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 6...
streets.
History
In 1941, the New York City Planning Department proposed a short expressway route to connect the Bronx Crosstown Highway (now the Cross Bronx Expressway) and the Southern Boulevard Express Highway (now the Bruckner Expressway). The purpose was to have a commercial-vehicle friendly alternate to the Bronx River ParkwayBronx River Parkway
The Bronx River Parkway is a long parkway in downstate New York. It is named for the nearby Bronx River, which it parallels. The southern terminus of the parkway is at Story Avenue near Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx neighborhood of Soundview...
. Construction began in 1958 and in October 1962, the $9.5 million expressway was opened to traffic.
Over the years, the expressway has received a number of Interstate designations. It was originally designated as I-695 in late 1958. In early 1959, the highway designation was changed to I-895. Later that year, however, I-278 was rerouted to use the Sheridan Expressway. This was the designation of the highway when it opened in 1962. On January 1, 1970, I-278 was realigned to follow the Bruckner Expressway
Bruckner Expressway
The Bruckner Expressway is a freeway in The Bronx. It carries Interstate 278 and Interstate 95 from the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge to the south end of the New England Thruway at the Pelham Parkway interchange....
east to the Bruckner Interchange
Bruckner Interchange
The Bruckner Interchange is a complex interchange at the intersection of the Bruckner Expressway, Cross Bronx Expressway, Hutchinson River Expressway, and Hutchinson River Parkway in the New York City borough of the Bronx, United States...
while the Sheridan Expressway was redesignated as I-895.
The Sheridan Expressway was originally planned to extend northeast to the Bruckner Expressway (I-95) at Co-op City
Co-op City, Bronx
Co-op City , located in the Baychester section of the Borough of the Bronx in northeast New York City, is one of the largest cooperative housing developments in the world. Situated at the intersection of Interstate 95 and the Hutchinson River Parkway, the community is part of Bronx Community Board 10...
, creating a shortcut toward New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. This extension was, however, cancelled. Because of the cancellation of the extension, the Sheridan is locally seen as a useless stub, serving the same movements as the Major Deegan Expressway
Major Deegan Expressway
The Major Deegan Expressway is a north–south expressway in the New York City borough of the Bronx...
(I-87) and Bronx River Parkway
Bronx River Parkway
The Bronx River Parkway is a long parkway in downstate New York. It is named for the nearby Bronx River, which it parallels. The southern terminus of the parkway is at Story Avenue near Bruckner Expressway in the Bronx neighborhood of Soundview...
.
Future
The future of the Sheridan Expressway is uncertain. The New York State Department of TransportationNew York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
(NYSDOT) proposed expanding the highway in 1997. The plan faced opposition rooted in claims of environmental justice
Environmental justice
Environmental justice is "the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, sex, national origin, or income with respect to the development, implementation and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies." In the words of Bunyan Bryant,...
from community groups, which proposed an alternative calling for the river-front expressway to be replaced with affordable housing, schools and green space.
In August 2008 the alternative community plan was under consideration by NYSDOT. The plan gained momentum in July 2010. However, the state opposed the plan to demolish the highway, citing a study showing that local traffic would be worsened. The dispute between the local community and the state DOT has led to a stalemate
Stalemate
Stalemate is a situation in chess where the player whose turn it is to move is not in check but has no legal moves. A stalemate ends the game in a draw. Stalemate is covered in the rules of chess....
, what the Daily News called a "crossroads" and "a road to nowhere".
Exit list
The entire route is in the BronxThe Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
. All exits are unnumbered.
{| class="wikitable"
!scope="col"|Location
!scope="col"|Mile
!scope="col"|Destinations
!scope="col"|Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Hunts Point
Hunts Point, Bronx
Hunts Point is a low-income neighborhood located on a peninsula in the South Bronx in New York City. It is the location of one of the largest food distribution facilities in the world. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 2. Its boundaries are the Bruckner Expressway to the west and...
|0.00
||
|Southbound exit and northbound entrance
|-
|0.61
|Westchester Avenue – Hunts Point Market
|No southbound entrance
|-
|rowspan=2|West Farms
West Farms, Bronx
West Farms is a residential neighborhood in a west central part of The Bronx, New York City, also known as the northeast corner of the South Bronx. The neighborhood is part of Bronx Community Board 6...
|rowspan=2|1.29
|
|No northbound entrance
|-
|East 177th Street
|Continuation beyond I-95
External links
- Southern Bronx River Watershed Alliance A proposal to replace the Sheridan Expressway's 28 acres (113,312.1 m²) footprint with affordable housing, open space, and new economic development opportunities.