New York State Route 204
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 204 (NY 204) is an east–west state highway
located just southeast of Rochester
in Monroe County, New York
, in the United States
. The western terminus of the route is at exit 6 on Interstate 490
(I-490) in Gates
. Its eastern terminus is at the Rochester city line just east of I-390
exit 18. The western portion of NY 204 is a limited-access highway known as the Airport Expressway that indirectly connects I-490 to the Greater Rochester International Airport
. The remaining part of the connection is made via the at-grade
portion of NY 204 on Chili and Brooks Avenues. NY 204 was assigned ca. 1965.
exit 6 in Gates
. The route heads southeast along the Airport Expressway, a four-lane limited-access highway through the town of Gates. No exits exist along the expressway; in fact, it only comes in contact with one highway (Pixley Road, which it passes over). After 1 miles (1.6 km), the highway ends at NY 33A
(Chili Avenue). NY 204 turns east here, joining NY 33A northeast for 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to the heavily commercial hamlet of Tressmar. The routes split near Westgate Plaza, where NY 204 veers eastward onto Brooks Avenue.
The route heads through a small residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Tressmar, which then gives way to more commercial and industrial surroundings. Along this stretch, NY 204 passes the headquarters of Wegmans Food Markets
. Past the Wegmans offices, the road dips sharply in elevation to pass under the Rochester and Southern Railroad
. NY 204 gradually returns to its prior elevation east of the railroad and connects to Airport Way, the primary access road to the Greater Rochester International Airport
, by way of an interchange. The highway runs along the northern edge of the airport grounds toward the Erie Canal
, where it meets I-390
at exit 18 on the southern bank of the waterway. NY 204 continues on, passing through the interchange and over the canal. The route comes to end at the canal's northern edge, which denotes the Rochester
city line. Brooks Avenue, meanwhile, continues into the city as a two-lane residential street.
to Genesee Park Boulevard in Rochester
was originally designated as part of NY 47
between 1935 and 1938. When NY 47 was rerouted to follow Beahan Road and Scottsville Road between Howard Road and Elmwood Avenue ca. 1962, the former alignment of NY 47 on Brooks Avenue and Genesee Park Boulevard was redesignated NY 33B. The NY 33B designation was removed and reapplied to a new highway in the Buffalo
area ca. 1965. The portion of NY 33B west of the Rochester city line was redesignated as NY 204.
To the west of Brooks Avenue, construction began in the mid-1960s on the Airport Expressway, a limited-access highway between I-490
and NY 33A
(Chili Avenue) near the Gates–Chili
town line. The highway was opened to traffic and designated as an extension of NY 204 by 1968. In between the end of the expressway and Brooks Avenue, NY 204 overlapped with NY 33A. As planned, the Airport Expressway would be extended eastward along the Brooks Avenue corridor to meet the Rochester Outer Loop (NY 47) just north of the then-Rochester – Monroe County Airport. On January 1, 1970, the NY 204 designation was officially extended eastward along the proposed highway; however, in the field, NY 204 remained routed on Chili and Brooks Avenues.
The proposed extension of the Airport Expressway remained on maps as late as 1979; however, by 1981, the routing was demapped as the planned extension was cancelled in the face of opposition from area residents. The intersection between the Airport Expressway and NY 33A was a stub half-interchange until 2001, when it was redone as a traditional T-shaped intersection.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located just southeast 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...
in Monroe County, New York
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 United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The western terminus of the route is at exit 6 on Interstate 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...
(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....
. Its eastern terminus is at the Rochester city line just east of 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...
exit 18. The western portion of NY 204 is a limited-access highway known as the Airport Expressway that indirectly connects I-490 to the Greater Rochester International Airport
Greater Rochester International Airport
Greater Rochester International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Rochester, a city in Monroe County, New York, United States...
. The remaining part of the connection is made via the at-grade
At-grade intersection
An at-grade intersection is a junction at which two or more transport axes cross at the same level .-Traffic management:With areas of high or fast traffic, an at-grade intersection normally requires a traffic control device such as a stop sign, traffic light or railway signal to manage conflicting...
portion of NY 204 on Chili and Brooks Avenues. NY 204 was assigned ca. 1965.
Route description
NY 204 begins at 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...
exit 6 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....
. The route heads southeast along the Airport Expressway, a four-lane limited-access highway through the town of Gates. No exits exist along the expressway; in fact, it only comes in contact with one highway (Pixley Road, which it passes over). After 1 miles (1.6 km), the highway ends at NY 33A
New York State Route 33A
New York State Route 33A is an east–west state highway mostly located in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The route is just over long and serves as an alternate route of NY 33 between the town of Bergen in Genesee County and the city of Rochester in Monroe County...
(Chili Avenue). NY 204 turns east here, joining NY 33A northeast for 0.9 miles (1.4 km) to the heavily commercial hamlet of Tressmar. The routes split near Westgate Plaza, where NY 204 veers eastward onto Brooks Avenue.
The route heads through a small residential neighborhood on the outskirts of Tressmar, which then gives way to more commercial and industrial surroundings. Along this stretch, NY 204 passes the headquarters of Wegmans Food Markets
Wegmans Food Markets
Wegmans Food Markets, Inc. is a family-owned U.S. regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, New York, near Rochester. Wegmans has more than 75 stores spread across the mid-Atlantic region, in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, Maryland and Massachusetts...
. Past the Wegmans offices, the road dips sharply in elevation to pass under the Rochester and Southern Railroad
Rochester and Southern Railroad
The Rochester and Southern Railroad , a subsidiary of Genesee & Wyoming Inc., is a class III shortline that runs from the city of Rochester in Monroe County to Silver Springs, NY. The RSR started in 1986, when the B&O sold off its Buffalo and Rochester branches...
. NY 204 gradually returns to its prior elevation east of the railroad and connects to Airport Way, the primary access road to the Greater Rochester International Airport
Greater Rochester International Airport
Greater Rochester International Airport is a county-owned public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Rochester, a city in Monroe County, New York, United States...
, by way of an interchange. The highway runs along the northern edge of the airport grounds toward the 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...
, where it meets 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...
at exit 18 on the southern bank of the waterway. NY 204 continues on, passing through the interchange and over the canal. The route comes to end at the canal's northern edge, which denotes the 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...
city line. Brooks Avenue, meanwhile, continues into the city as a two-lane residential street.
History
The portion of Brooks Avenue from Howard Road in GatesGates, 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....
to Genesee Park Boulevard in 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...
was originally 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...
between 1935 and 1938. When NY 47 was rerouted to follow Beahan Road and Scottsville Road between Howard Road and Elmwood Avenue ca. 1962, the former alignment of NY 47 on Brooks Avenue and Genesee Park Boulevard was redesignated NY 33B. The NY 33B designation was removed and reapplied to a new highway in the Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
area ca. 1965. The portion of NY 33B west of the Rochester city line was redesignated as NY 204.
To the west of Brooks Avenue, construction began in the mid-1960s on the Airport Expressway, a limited-access highway between 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...
and NY 33A
New York State Route 33A
New York State Route 33A is an east–west state highway mostly located in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The route is just over long and serves as an alternate route of NY 33 between the town of Bergen in Genesee County and the city of Rochester in Monroe County...
(Chili Avenue) near the Gates–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....
town line. The highway was opened to traffic and designated as an extension of NY 204 by 1968. In between the end of the expressway and Brooks Avenue, NY 204 overlapped with NY 33A. As planned, the Airport Expressway would be extended eastward along the Brooks Avenue corridor to meet the Rochester Outer Loop (NY 47) just north of the then-Rochester – Monroe County Airport. On January 1, 1970, the NY 204 designation was officially extended eastward along the proposed highway; however, in the field, NY 204 remained routed on Chili and Brooks Avenues.
The proposed extension of the Airport Expressway remained on maps as late as 1979; however, by 1981, the routing was demapped as the planned extension was cancelled in the face of opposition from area residents. The intersection between the Airport Expressway and NY 33A was a stub half-interchange until 2001, when it was redone as a traditional T-shaped intersection.