New York State Route 129
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 129 (NY 129) is a 7.75 miles (12.47 km) long state highway in the western part of Westchester County, New York
. The route begins at NY 9A
(South Riverside Avenue) in the village of Croton on Hudson
. NY 129 then travels through the towns of Cortlandt
and Yorktown
, running along the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir
. It passes under (southbound) and over (northbound) the Taconic State Parkway
in Yorktown with no direct interchange. NY 129 ends in Yorktown at NY 118
.
, NY 129 makes a turn up Maple Street, which then becomes Grand Street. At the Cortlandt
town line, NY 129 becomes Croton Dam Road and the speed limit increases to 55 mph. Soon thereafter it passes the New Croton Dam
and begins a steep climb to level off and run along the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir
, becoming a road a driver might enjoy.
The road soon becomes Yorktown Road, and then Croton Lake Road as it enters Yorktown
. Upon entering Yorktown it passes over the Hunters Brook Bridge over the Hunters Brook branch of the reservoir and then enters (historic) Huntersville, where the speed limit drops to 40 mi/h. After passing through Huntersville, the speed limit goes back to 55 just before reaching County Route 131 (Underhill Avenue). From there, NY 129 climbs uphill again to pass under the southbound Taconic State Parkway
, and then over the northbound side. The route then drops back down to the level of the reservoir and passing a house reported to have been moved from Huntersville before it was flooded. A short distance further along is the Old Croton Dam bridge off a side road, from which one might catch a glimpse of the Old Croton Dam when the water level is low.
NY 129 ends at an intersection with NY 118
(Saw Mill River Road) controlled by a flashing light south of Yorktown Heights
on the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir. NY 118 continues eastward on Croton Lake Road, which carries the Saw Mill River Road name east of this point. A common misconception is that NY 129 continues to NY 100
, when it is in fact NY 118
that actually connects with NY 100. NY 129 actually ends at an intersection 1.3 miles (2.1 km) before NY 100.
extending from the New York City
line at Yonkers
to the Columbia County
village of Valatie
. Route 2 initially followed modern NY 129, Croton Avenue, and NY 35
between Croton-on-Hudson
and Peekskill
; however, it was realigned on March 1, 1921, to use what is now NY 9A
instead. NY 129 was designated to most of its current alignment as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. It originally followed Croton Dam Road, the southern perimeter road around the New Croton Reservoir
, while Croton Lake Road, the northern route, was designated as NY 131 by the following year. The alignments of NY 129 and NY 131 in the vicinity of the reservoir were flipped ca. 1941 and the NY 131 designation ceased to exist by the mid-1940s.
Westchester County, New York
Westchester County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. Westchester covers an area of and has a population of 949,113 according to the 2010 Census, residing in 45 municipalities...
. The route begins at NY 9A
New York State Route 9A
New York State Route 9A is a state highway in the vicinity of New York City, New York, United States. Its southern terminus is at the northern end of the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel in New York City, where it intersects with both Interstate 478 and FDR Drive. The northern terminus of...
(South Riverside Avenue) in the village of Croton on Hudson
Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 8,070 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Cortlandt, in New York City's northern suburbs...
. NY 129 then travels through the towns of Cortlandt
Cortlandt, New York
Cortlandt is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cortlandt is in the northwest part of the county...
and Yorktown
Yorktown, New York
Yorktown is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the suburbs of New York about north of midtown Manhattan. The town lies on the north border of Westchester County...
, running along the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir
New Croton Reservoir
The New Croton reservoir is a narrow reservoir in Westchester County, New York, lying approximately north of New York City, for which the reservoir supplies water. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed....
. It passes under (southbound) and over (northbound) the Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
in Yorktown with no direct interchange. NY 129 ends in Yorktown at NY 118
New York State Route 118
New York State Route 118 is a north–south state highway that extends for in Downstate New York in the United States. Much of the highway is located within Westchester County; however, a small portion of the route near the northern terminus is situated in Putnam County...
.
Route description
From its start on Riverside Avenue in the village of Croton on HudsonCroton-on-Hudson, New York
Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 8,070 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Cortlandt, in New York City's northern suburbs...
, NY 129 makes a turn up Maple Street, which then becomes Grand Street. At the Cortlandt
Cortlandt, New York
Cortlandt is a town in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 41,592 at the 2010 census.The Town of Cortlandt is in the northwest part of the county...
town line, NY 129 becomes Croton Dam Road and the speed limit increases to 55 mph. Soon thereafter it passes the New Croton Dam
New Croton Dam
The New Croton Dam, part of the New York City water supply system, stretches across the Croton River near Croton-on-Hudson, New York, about north of New York City. Construction began in 1892 and was completed in 1906. Designed by Alphonse Fteley , this masonry dam is broad at its base and high...
and begins a steep climb to level off and run along the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir
New Croton Reservoir
The New Croton reservoir is a narrow reservoir in Westchester County, New York, lying approximately north of New York City, for which the reservoir supplies water. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed....
, becoming a road a driver might enjoy.
The road soon becomes Yorktown Road, and then Croton Lake Road as it enters Yorktown
Yorktown, New York
Yorktown is a town in Westchester County, New York, in the suburbs of New York about north of midtown Manhattan. The town lies on the north border of Westchester County...
. Upon entering Yorktown it passes over the Hunters Brook Bridge over the Hunters Brook branch of the reservoir and then enters (historic) Huntersville, where the speed limit drops to 40 mi/h. After passing through Huntersville, the speed limit goes back to 55 just before reaching County Route 131 (Underhill Avenue). From there, NY 129 climbs uphill again to pass under the southbound Taconic State Parkway
Taconic State Parkway
The Taconic State Parkway , is a divided highway between Kensico Dam and Chatham, the longest parkway in the U.S. state of New York. It follows a generally northward route midway between the Hudson River and the Connecticut and Massachusetts state lines...
, and then over the northbound side. The route then drops back down to the level of the reservoir and passing a house reported to have been moved from Huntersville before it was flooded. A short distance further along is the Old Croton Dam bridge off a side road, from which one might catch a glimpse of the Old Croton Dam when the water level is low.
NY 129 ends at an intersection with NY 118
New York State Route 118
New York State Route 118 is a north–south state highway that extends for in Downstate New York in the United States. Much of the highway is located within Westchester County; however, a small portion of the route near the northern terminus is situated in Putnam County...
(Saw Mill River Road) controlled by a flashing light south of Yorktown Heights
Yorktown Heights, New York
Yorktown Heights is a census-designated place in the town of Yorktown in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Yorktown Heights is located at ....
on the northern edge of the New Croton Reservoir. NY 118 continues eastward on Croton Lake Road, which carries the Saw Mill River Road name east of this point. A common misconception is that NY 129 continues to NY 100
New York State Route 100
New York State Route 100 is a major north–south state highway in Westchester County, New York, in the United States. It begins parallel to Interstate 87 at a junction with the Cross County Parkway in the city of Yonkers and runs through most of the length of the county via the city of...
, when it is in fact NY 118
New York State Route 118
New York State Route 118 is a north–south state highway that extends for in Downstate New York in the United States. Much of the highway is located within Westchester County; however, a small portion of the route near the northern terminus is situated in Putnam County...
that actually connects with NY 100. NY 129 actually ends at an intersection 1.3 miles (2.1 km) before NY 100.
History
In 1908, the New York State Legislature created Route 2, an unsigned legislative routeLegislative route
In United States, a legislative route or legislative highway is a highway defined by laws passed in a state legislature. The numbering of such highways may or may not correspond to the numbers familiar to the public as part of the state, U.S. highway, and Interstate highway systems...
extending from the New York City
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...
line at Yonkers
Yonkers, New York
Yonkers is the fourth most populous city in the state of New York , and the most populous city in Westchester County, with a population of 195,976...
to the Columbia County
Columbia County, New York
Columbia County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,096. The county seat is Hudson. The name comes from the Latin feminine form of the name of Christopher Columbus, which was at the time of the formation of the county a popular proposal...
village of Valatie
Valatie, New York
Valatie is a village in Columbia County, New York, United States. The population was 1,819 at the 2010 census.The Village of Valatie is in the center of the Town of Kinderhook on US 9.-Geography:Valatie is located at ....
. Route 2 initially followed modern NY 129, Croton Avenue, and NY 35
New York State Route 35
New York State Route 35 is the principal east–west highway in the northern part of Westchester County, New York, carrying average daily volumes of around 16,500 vehicles...
between Croton-on-Hudson
Croton-on-Hudson, New York
Croton-on-Hudson is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 8,070 at the 2010 census. It is located in the town of Cortlandt, in New York City's northern suburbs...
and Peekskill
Peekskill, New York
Peekskill is a city in Westchester County, New York. It is situated on a bay along the east side of the Hudson River, across from Jones Point.This community was known to be an early American industrial center, primarily for its iron plow and stove products...
; however, it was realigned on March 1, 1921, to use what is now NY 9A
New York State Route 9A
New York State Route 9A is a state highway in the vicinity of New York City, New York, United States. Its southern terminus is at the northern end of the Brooklyn–Battery Tunnel in New York City, where it intersects with both Interstate 478 and FDR Drive. The northern terminus of...
instead. NY 129 was designated to most of its current alignment as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. It originally followed Croton Dam Road, the southern perimeter road around the New Croton Reservoir
New Croton Reservoir
The New Croton reservoir is a narrow reservoir in Westchester County, New York, lying approximately north of New York City, for which the reservoir supplies water. It is the collecting point for water from all reservoirs in the Croton Watershed....
, while Croton Lake Road, the northern route, was designated as NY 131 by the following year. The alignments of NY 129 and NY 131 in the vicinity of the reservoir were flipped ca. 1941 and the NY 131 designation ceased to exist by the mid-1940s.