New York State Route 31
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 31 (NY 31) is a state highway
that extends for 208.74 miles (335.93 km) 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 Center, a hamlet within the town of Vernon
. Over its routing, NY 31 spans 10 counties and indirectly connects three major urban areas in Upstate New York
: Buffalo
– Niagara Falls, Rochester
, and Syracuse
. The route is one of the longest routes in New York State, paralleling two similarly lengthy routes, NY 104
to the north and NY 5
to the south, as well as the Erie Canal
, as it proceeds east.
Much of NY 31 west of Jordan
was originally designated as part of a legislative route
from the late 1900s to the early 1920s. NY 31 itself was assigned in the mid-1920s, utilizing all of legislative Route 30 (modern NY 31, NY 429
, and NY 104) west of Rochester and much of its current alignment from Rochester to Lenox
. At Lenox, NY 31 turned southeast to follow what is now NY 316
and NY 46
to NY 5
in Oneida
. It was realigned by 1929 to continue west to Lewiston on Ridge Road
and altered in the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York to continue east to Utica
via Verona
. With the advent of U.S. Route 104 (US 104) ca. 1935, NY 31 was realigned west of Rochester to follow most of its modern routing.
NY 31 was truncated westward to NY 365
in Verona in the early 1940s, moving the eastern terminus of NY 31 to the same junction that also had served as the northern terminus of New York State Route 234, a north–south route that extended southeastward to Vernon Center, since the early 1930s. The two routes continued to share a terminus until 1981, when ownership and maintenance of part of NY 234 was transferred from the state of New York to Oneida County
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. In return, the state acquired a pair of county roads that followed a routing parallel to that of the transferred section of NY 234. The new state highways and the remainder of NY 234 became an extension of NY 31.
(NYSDOT); however, some sections of the route—mostly within cities—are locally owned and maintained. In the cities of Niagara Falls
and Rochester
, NY 31 is completely city-owned. Another city-maintained section exists in the city of Lockport
from Washburn Street (five blocks east of NY 78
) to the eastern city line. Two villages—Medina
and Newark
—also maintain parts of NY 31. In Medina, the locally owned section begins at the Falls Road Railroad
crossing in the village center and ends at Center Street (NY 31E
). The portion in Newark, meanwhile, extends from Mason Street (one block west of NY 88
) to the eastern village line.
As of 2009, the most heavily-trafficked segments of NY 31 lie in and around the city of Rochester. The busiest of these, from Interstate 590 (I-590) to NY 65
in the eastern suburb of Brighton
, carries in excess of 40,000 vehicles per day on average. Two other segments—between South and Woodbury Avenues in downtown Rochester and from NY 65 to French Road in Brighton and Pittsford
—have traffic volumes in excess of 30,000 vehicles. On the other hand, the portion of NY 31 in the Oneida County
town of Vernon
between the Vernon Downs
racetrack and Youngs Road handles just 910 cars per day on average, making it the least-traveled segment of the route.
in northern Niagara Falls. After a short distance eastward through the northern fringe of the city as College Avenue, the road encounters NY 61
at the northeastern city line. NY 31 continues northeastward into the town of Niagara
, following Witmer Road to an interchange with I-190
at exit 24. Past I-190, NY 31 meets NY 265
south of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant reservoir. At the intersection, NY 31 becomes Saunders Settlement Road, a name it retains for almost 15 miles (24 km). Continuing through Niagara County
, Route 31 passes the south end of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation ahead of a brief overlap with NY 429
. Past the east end of the concurrency, NY 429 travels north toward Route 104 while NY 31 continues east past Niagara County Community College
to an intersection with NY 425
, the final state route that NY 31 intersects before entering the Lockport
area.
West of Lockport, NY 31 crosses NY 270
and NY 93
. Continuing into the city, NY 31 meets NY 78
(Transit Street) at an intersection partially located over the Erie Canal
. Route 31 heads eastward through Lockport, intersecting the northern terminus of NY 77
at the eastern edge of the city. While NY 77 continues along the right-of-way of NY 31, NY 31 exits, following a northeasterly alignment through Gasport
to Middleport
, where it acts as the western and southern terminus of NY 31E
and NY 271
, respectively. Just east of town, NY 31 crosses the first of nine county lines along its routing, entering Orleans County
.
At an intersection south of Medina
, NY 31A
branches off, continuing straight from NY 31 while NY 31 turns north to overlap NY 63
for a short distance between NY 31A and NY 31E in Medina. At NY 31E, NY 31 separates from NY 63, following the path of NY 31E east out of the village. 10 miles (16 km) to the east, Route 31 crosses NY 98
in Albion
. Midway between Albion and Holley
, NY 31 intersects the southern end of NY 387
. NY 31 continues to the southeast, entering Holley and intersecting NY 237
in the village center. The route quickly leaves Holley soon after, crossing into Monroe County
just over a mile (about 1.6 km) from the village line.
before intersecting Redman Road about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the village of Brockport
. NY 31 turns south here, following Redman Road back across the Erie Canal and past the western fringe of the SUNY Brockport
campus to a junction with Fourth Section Road. NY 31A enters the intersection from the west and ends at NY 31 while the latter turns east onto Fourth Section Road. NY 31 progresses eastward, intersecting NY 19
in a commercialized area directly south of Brockport and becoming Brockport-Spencerport Road. East of the village in the surrounding town of Sweden
, NY 31 meets the southern terminus of NY 260
. The route continues eastward, paralleling the Erie Canal as it enters Ogden
, where NY 31 comes to the current western terminus of NY 531
, the Spencerport Expressway, and, shortly after, the northern terminus of NY 36
. Route 31, now sandwiched by the canal to the north and NY 531 to the south, heads eastward into the village of Spencerport
, where it becomes Nichols Street and meets NY 259
in the center of the community.
Outside of Spencerport, NY 31 becomes Spencerport Road as it heads eastward into the town of Gates
. The route heads past residential neighborhoods to the north and mostly undeveloped land to the south as it enters the hamlet of Elmgrove, built up around NY 31's junction with NY 386
. Not far to the east, NY 31 enters North Gates, a densely populated residential community near the northern town line of Gates. In the southeastern outskirts of the community, NY 31 intersects Lyell and Howard Roads at a junction that once served as the western terminus of NY 47
. NY 31 continues east from here as Lyell Avenue, meeting NY 390
at an interchange immediately north of the route's larger interchange with I-490
. Not far to the east is the Rochester
city line, which NY 31 crosses upon traversing the Erie Canal once again.
Route 31 follows Lyell Avenue through the city to West Broad Street, where it turns to follow Broad Street southeastward past Marina Auto Stadium. It heads onward toward a pair of overpasses, one carrying I-490 and another holding the CSX Transportation
-owned Rochester Subdivision
. Route 31 continues under both, following the former path of the Erie Canal southeast through the city to the eastern terminus of NY 33
at West Main Street. NY 31 follows West Main Street to the east, passing under I-490 once again before breaking from Main Street and occupying East Broad Street. The street proceeds to the east, passing through the commercial heart of the city. Just east of Exchange Boulevard, the northern terminus of NY 383
, the route crosses the Genesee River
on the Broad Street Aqueduct.
East of the waterway, NY 31 follows East Broad Street to South Avenue, where it turns south for two blocks to a junction with Woodbury Boulevard. It turns east here, following Woodbury Boulevard for two blocks to Chestnut Street, at which point NY 31 turns southward to follow Chestnut Street. Westbound NY 31 in the area, however, follows one block of Woodbury Boulevard and two blocks of South Clinton Avenue to reach East Broad Street. At the Inner Loop
, Chestnut Street becomes Monroe Avenue, the name NY 31 retains to Pittsford
. Over this stretch, NY 31 maintains a constant southeasterly progression as it passes though southeastern Rochester and the town of Brighton
. As the route exits downtown Rochester, it intersects I-490 at exit 18. The route continues onward, passing Cobbs Hill Park and entering Brighton, where it traverses areas more commercial in nature and meets the former routing of NY 47 a second time in an area of town known as Twelve Corners.
by way of an interchange and intersects NY 65
. From NY 65, NY 31 continues southeast into the town of Pittsford
, passing along the southern fringe of Oak Hill Country Club
and paralleling the former right-of-way of the Auburn Road railroad line to the village of Pittsford
. Just inside the village limits, Route 31 crosses the Erie Canal once more and intersects the West Shore Subdivision
at-grade. In the village center, NY 31 intersects NY 96
. East of NY 96, the route crosses over the Erie Canal once again and exits the village. Outside of the village, NY 31 parallels I-490 for a short distance across slightly open areas before connecting to the freeway near the Perinton
town line at exit 26. The route continues east into Perinton, where it traverses the Erie Canal for one final time within the county and crosses NY 250
near Perinton Square Mall.
East of the mall, the route passes through increasingly rural areas, with the exception of the hamlet of Egypt midway between NY 250 and the Wayne County
line. NY 31 progresses onward into Wayne County, where the Rochester suburbs end as the route heads eastward through the mostly rural town of Macedon
to the village of the same name
. Prior to exiting the village, Route 31 meets the southern terminus of NY 350
and the eastern terminus of NY 31F
. The highway continues on, exiting the village and proceeding eastward through the town of Macedon, bordered by the Erie Canal to the north and Ganargua Creek to the south. In Palmyra
, NY 31 joins NY 21
through the center of the village.
From Palmyra east, the route parallels the Erie Canal for a considerable distance. Between Palmyra and Newark
, NY 31 dips into Ontario County
for less than a mile (about 1.6 km) before reentering Wayne County. In Newark
, NY 31 intersects NY 88
. Farther east, in Lyons
, it crosses NY 14
and the Erie Canal. At Clyde
, NY 31 briefly overlaps NY 414
in the center of the village. Outside of Clyde, the Erie Canal veers off to the southeast while NY 31 continues east alongside the Rochester Subdivision to the hamlet of Savannah
, the final centralized community within Wayne County. Here, NY 31 intersects NY 89
and follows it southward toward the Seneca County
line. At the county line, NY 89 turns west to follow the county line while NY 31 heads southeast into Seneca County. The route proceeds across the northeastern most corner of the county before crossing into Cayuga County
via a bridge over the Erie Canal after just 1.5 miles (2.4 km).
(I-90
), which NY 31 does for most of its routing west of the outer Syracuse
suburbs. In Port Byron
, NY 31 intersects NY 38
in the center of the village. The routes embark on an overlap through the village before separating near the eastern edge of Port Byron. Route 31 continues alone to Weedsport
, where the route meets NY 34
and County Route 31B (CR 31B, formerly NY 31B
) north of the village. East of Weedsport, NY 31 and the Thruway are joined by the CSX Rochester Subdivision mainline, which runs down the center of the strip of land created by the Thruway to the north and NY 31 to the south.
Continuing into Onondaga County
and the village of Jordan
, NY 31 begins to make a turn northward while connecting to the northern end of NY 317
(the former northern terminus of NY 31C) a short distance north of the village center. With the turn complete, NY 31 traverses the CSX mainline and the Thruway via successive overpasses before returning to level ground and resuming an eastward alignment in the shadow of the Thruway. Once inside the limits of Van Buren
, NY 31 separates from the Thruway, curving north and intersecting the western terminus of NY 173
in quick succession. The alignment remains fairly straight to the outskirts of Baldwinsville
, where NY 31 turns to the right onto Downer Street to avoid the Seneca River
to the immediate north. The eastward progression is limited, however, as NY 31 merges with NY 690
northward, traversing the Seneca River and straddling the western edge of Baldwinsville.
On the north bank of the river, NY 31 exits NY 690 but joins NY 370
at the end of the exit ramp. Together, NY 31 and 370 enter Baldwinsville, intersecting NY 48
in the village center. Three blocks from NY 48, NY 370 splits from NY 31. As NY 370 heads for downtown Syracuse
, NY 31 continues east, overlapping NY 631
for a short distance before passing through Lysander New Community and crossing the Seneca River again. Now in the town of Clay
, NY 31 meets NY 481
at an interchange in the shadow of the Great Northern Mall
. Route 31 continues eastward through the town to Cicero
, where it meets US 11
and I-81
at exit 30. As NY 31 heads away from I-81, Oneida Lake
slowly becomes visible to the north. NY 31 comes within a mile (about 1.6 km) of the lakeshore before turning slightly to parallel the shoreline. Near the Madison County
line, here delimited by Chittenango Creek
, NY 31 enters the western half of Bridgeport
and meets the eastern terminus of NY 298
near the banks of the creek. NY 31 continues eastward, crossing the creek and entering Madison County and the remaining portion of Bridgeport.
East of Bridgeport, NY 31 moves closer to Oneida Lake, eventually coming to within 200 yards (182.9 m) of the lakeshore at points. Near the eastern edge of Oneida Lake, NY 31 intersects NY 13
in the hamlet of South Bay
. To the east, NY 31 meets the northern terminus of NY 316
at a junction adjacent to the Oneida County
line, again marked by a body of water, the Oneida Creek
. NY 31 traverses the creek and proceeds eastward through the Oneida County town of Verona
. Northeast of Oneida
, NY 31 intersects NY 46
adjacent to the path of the old routing of the Erie Canal
. Farther east, Route 31 intersects NY 365
just north of its interchange with the Thruway. The Turning Stone Resort & Casino, located 2 miles (3 km) south of the intersection, is accessible via NY 365.
Past NY 365, NY 31 passes over the Thruway (I-90) for the final time. The route continues southeast into the town of Vernon
and the village of the same name
within, where NY 31 intersects NY 5
. NY 31 joins NY 5, following the route eastward for about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) out of the village to Stuhlman Road. Here, NY 31 splits from NY 5 and follows Stuhlman Road southward, passing to the east of Vernon Downs
before intersecting Youngs Road. Stuhlman Road ends here; however, NY 31 turns eastward onto Youngs Road, following it into the hamlet of Vernon Center. The route continues eastward into the center of the community, where it ends at a large traffic circle
with NY 26
.
system that initially consisted of 37 unsigned
routes. Much of what is now NY 31 west of Jordan
became part of one of three routes, namely Route 14, Route 20, and Route 30. Route 30 began at the Niagara Falls
city line (delimited by modern NY 61
) and followed current NY 31 east to Sanborn
, where it turned north onto modern NY 429
. The route followed current NY 429 to Ridge Road
in Porter
, at which point it turned to follow Ridge Road eastward to what is now NY 63
in Ridgeway
. Route 30 went south here, utilizing modern NY 63 between Ridgeway and Medina. It rejoined what is now NY 31 in the latter location and proceeded eastward on roughly current NY 31 to the Rochester
city line. In the vicinity of Brockport
, however, Route 30 was routed on West Avenue and modern NY 19
instead. From the southeastern city line to NY 96
in the village of Pittsford
, Monroe Avenue (modern NY 31) was part of Route 14, which turned south onto South Main Street in the center of Pittsford. Lastly, the segment what is now NY 31 between current NY 31F
and NY 350
in the village of Macedon
and NY 317
in Jordan was part of Route 20.
Two spur routes were added to the definition of Route 30 in 1914. One of these, a route connecting Lockport
to Medina, utilized what is now NY 31 from the Lockport city line to NY 77
and from Gasport Road in Gasport
to Medina (via modern NY 31E
). On March 1, 1921, several routes were altered or eliminated as part of a partial renumbering of the legislative route system. Among these was Route 30, which was modified to follow Ridge Road instead between Ridgeway and Rochester. Its former routing from Medina eastward and the Lockport spur of Route 30 mostly became part of an extended Route 20, which now began in North Tonawanda
and followed modern NY 425 and Lower Mountain, Gothic Hill, and Upper Mountain Roads north and east through Cambria Center to Lockport. From Middleport
to Medina, however, Route 20 was routed on modern NY 31 instead. East of Rochester, the section of Route 20 between Fairport
and Macedon was reconfigured to utilize what is now NY 250
and NY 31.
, a cross-state route that began in North Tonawanda and ended in Plattsburgh
. By 1926, NY 31 was assigned to an alignment extending from Niagara Falls to Oneida
. The route began at NY 34 (now NY 104
) in Niagara Falls and followed College Avenue east to the city line, from where it continued eastward to Rochester on the alignment of legislative Route 30. Within the city of Rochester
, NY 31 continued east on Ridge Road to Lake Avenue, where it turned south to enter downtown Rochester, becoming State Street at Lyell Avenue. At East Main Street, NY 31 resumed its eastward alignment, crossing the Genesee River
and continuing on Main Street to Monroe Avenue, which, at the time, connected directly with Main Street. NY 31 turned right on Monroe Avenue, rejoining its present alignment of NY 31 near Union Street.
East of Rochester, NY 31 continued eastward to Jordan, utilizing the Rochester–Pittsford portion of legislative Route 14, the Perinton
–Jordan segment of Route 20, and its current alignment between Pittsford and Perinton. From Weedsport
to Jordan, NY 31 used a slightly different routing. It initially exited the village on Clinton Road and followed that road to Jordan, where NY 31 turned north and followed modern NY 317
and NY 31 north and east to modern CR 84. NY 31 turned north here, using what is now Old Route 31, current NY 31, and Downer Street to reach Baldwinsville
. Within the village, NY 31 followed Downer Street and what is now NY 48
along Syracuse Street between Downer and Genesee Streets. Outside of Baldwinsville, NY 31 remained on its current routing to Cicero
, where it followed a more northerly alignment along Lakeshore Road. It rejoined its modern alignment near the eastern town line, and followed it east to what is now NY 316
in Lenox
. From here, NY 31 went southeastward to NY 5
in Oneida by way of modern NY 316 and NY 46
.
by way of its modern alignment plus Spring and Lowell Roads and several city streets. At the same time, NY 3 was realigned to continue west to Niagara Falls over modern NY 31, overlapping NY 31A west of Sanborn. Two other portions of NY 3—from the modern junction of NY 31 and NY 77
east of Lockport to Gasport and between Middleport and Medina—were also realigned at this time to use modern NY 31 and the old routing of legislative Route 30 Spur along modern NY 31E, respectively.
Ca. 1932, what is now NY 31 from NY 365
in Verona
to NY 5 in Vernon
became part of NY 234, a north–south highway that continued south to NY 26
in Vernon Center by way of NY 5 and Churton and Youngs Roads. Also around this time, NY 3 was realigned between Shawnee and Lockport to use Saunders Settlement Road. US 104, meanwhile, was assigned ca. 1935, following Ridge Road from Niagara Falls east to Maple View in Oswego County
. The assignment of the highway led to the reconfiguration of several state highways in western
and central New York
, including NY 3 and NY 31. The latter route was rerouted west of Rochester to follow the former alignment of NY 3 to Niagara Falls while NY 3 was truncated to a location in northern Cayuga County
. At the same time, NY 31A was reassigned to a new alignment
extending from Middleport to Knowlesville via Medina.
NY 31 was truncated to NY 365 in Verona in the early 1940s; as a result, NY 31 and NY 234 now had a common terminus. Despite this fact, the two routes continued to co-exist for the next 40 years. On April 1, 1981, ownership and maintenance of the Churton Road portion of NY 234 was transferred from the state of New York
to Oneida County
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. Two of highways that the state received in return were Stuhlman Road (CR 81) and the segment of Youngs Road (CR 13) between Stuhlman Road and Churton Road (NY 234). The two new state highways did not become a rerouting of NY 234, however, as the NY 234 designation was eliminated at this time. Instead, NY 31 was extended southeastward over NY 234's former routing to Vernon, from where it continued to Vernon Center by way of NY 5, Stuhlman and Youngs Roads. Churton Road was redesignated as CR 94.
. The portion of NY 31 northeast of Jordan was straightened at some point in the late 1970s or early 1980s to bypass the hamlet of Jacks Reef to the south and east. In the early 1980s, NY 31 was rerouted near Baldwinsville to follow NY 690
and NY 370
into the village.
Around the same time as the Baldwinsville realignment, NY 31 was moved onto its current alignment southwest of Brockport, bypassing the village on Redman and Fourth Section Roads and eliminating an overlap with NY 19
. The new alignment of NY 31 utilized part of NY 31A
, which was truncated westward to the junction of Redman and Fourth Section Roads. Reference marker
s along the Fourth Section Road segment still read "31A". The former routing of NY 31 into Brockport became NY 943B, an unsigned reference route, and later also became part of NY 19 Truck. The Redman Road portion of NY 31, meanwhile, was initially maintained by Monroe County
as part of CR 236. In 2007, ownership and maintenance of the Redman Road segment of NY 31 was transferred from Monroe County to the state of New York as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. A bill (S4856, 2007) to enact the swap was introduced in the New York State Senate
on April 23 and passed by both the Senate and the New York State Assembly
on June 20. The act was signed into law by Governor Eliot Spitzer
on August 28. Under the terms of the act, it took effect 90 days after it was signed into law; thus, the maintenance swap officially took place on November 26, 2007.
through the city. When the canal was diverted to bypass the city to the south in 1920, the canal bed became part of the Rochester Subway
while a 4000 feet (1,219 m) bridge was built over the bed to carry a new street named Broad Street. None of Broad Street was initially part of NY 31, however; when NY 31 replaced NY 3 west of Rochester ca. 1935, it entered the city by way of NY 3's old routing on Lyell Avenue and rejoined its original alignment at State Street. In the late 1930s, NY 31 was realigned through downtown to follow Smith and Bausch Streets east across the Genesee River and St. Paul Street and South Avenue south to Woodbury Boulevard, which at the time connected to Monroe Avenue one block to the east at South Clinton Avenue. NY 31 was altered once again ca. 1964 to leave Lyell Avenue at Broad Street and follow West and East Broad Streets through downtown to South Avenue.
From West Main Street to South Avenue, the bridge supports were largely built with concrete while the supports on the section between Brown Street and West Main Street were mostly built with steel. Unlike the concrete supports, the steel supports flexed throughout the year, creating holes and gaps in the pavement on the deck above. The city of Rochester, which owns and maintains the section of NY 31 within the city, closed the outer northbound lane of West Broad Street (westbound NY 31) between Brown and Main Streets in June 2008 for this reason.
In February 2010, work began on a $17.5 million project to either demolish or rehabilitate the Broad Street bridge between Brown Street and Exchange Boulevard (NY 383
). As part of the project, the section of the bridge between Brown and West Main Streets would be removed—allowing for the canal bed to be filled in and the road to be rebuilt—while the segment between West Main Street and Exchange Boulevard would be rehabilitated. The portion of Broad Street between Allen and Main Streets was closed to all traffic in February and was originally scheduled to open on October 30. It finally reopened to traffic on December 3.
Farther north, work on the segment between Brown and Allen Streets was performed on one side at a time, keeping one side of Broad Street open at all times. The northbound lanes of this segment were closed on April 7, and one direction of the segment was closed until November. It fully reopened on December 3 along with the West Main Street – Allen Street segment. Rehabilitation of Broad Street from West Main Street to Exchange Boulevard is expected to be completed in mid-to-late 2011. The entire project, which also calls for landscape improvements to the area surrounding West Broad Street, is tentatively scheduled to be finished in February 2012.
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...
that extends for 208.74 miles (335.93 km) across western and central New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with 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 the city of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
. Its eastern terminus is at a traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
with NY 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
in Vernon Center, a hamlet within the town of Vernon
Vernon (town), New York
Vernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census.The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county...
. Over its routing, NY 31 spans 10 counties and indirectly connects three major urban areas in Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
: 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...
– Niagara Falls, 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...
, and Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
. The route is one of the longest routes in New York State, paralleling two similarly lengthy routes, 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...
to the north and NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
to the south, as well as 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...
, as it proceeds east.
Much of NY 31 west of Jordan
Jordan, New York
Jordan is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
was originally designated as part of a legislative route
Legislative 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...
from the late 1900s to the early 1920s. NY 31 itself was assigned in the mid-1920s, utilizing all of legislative Route 30 (modern NY 31, NY 429
New York State Route 429
New York State Route 429 is a north–south state highway located entirely within Niagara County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 265 and NY 384 in North Tonawanda to a junction with NY 104 on the border between the towns of Cambria...
, and NY 104) west of Rochester and much of its current alignment from Rochester to Lenox
Lenox, New York
Lenox is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 8,665 as of the 2000 census.The Town of Lenox is on the county's northern border. It is west of the City of Oneida.- History :...
. At Lenox, NY 31 turned southeast to follow what is now NY 316
New York State Route 316
New York State Route 316 is a state highway in Madison County, New York, in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 46 in the city of Oneida and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the hamlet of Oneida Valley, located in the town of Lenox...
and NY 46
New York State Route 46
New York State Route 46 is a state highway in Central New York, United States. It extends from NY 12B in the Madison County town of Eaton to NY 12D in the Oneida County village of Boonville. NY 46 passes through the cities of Oneida and Rome.-Madison County:NY 46 begins at...
to NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in Oneida
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
. It was realigned by 1929 to continue west to Lewiston on Ridge Road
Ridge Road (Western New York)
Ridge Road is a east–west road that traverses four counties in Upstate New York in the United States. It is named for the rise atop which the road was built, a mound of sand and gravel that was formed when it was the shoreline of ancient Glacial Lake Iroquois...
and altered in the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York to continue east to Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
via Verona
Verona, New York
Verona is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 6,425 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is unknown, though it's possibly named after Verona, Italy....
. With the advent of U.S. Route 104 (US 104) ca. 1935, NY 31 was realigned west of Rochester to follow most of its modern routing.
NY 31 was truncated westward to NY 365
New York State Route 365
New York State Route 365 is an east–west state highway in the central portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 5 east of the Oneida County city of Oneida to a junction with NY 8 in the Herkimer County town of Ohio...
in Verona in the early 1940s, moving the eastern terminus of NY 31 to the same junction that also had served as the northern terminus of New York State Route 234, a north–south route that extended southeastward to Vernon Center, since the early 1930s. The two routes continued to share a terminus until 1981, when ownership and maintenance of part of NY 234 was transferred from the state of New York to Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. In return, the state acquired a pair of county roads that followed a routing parallel to that of the transferred section of NY 234. The new state highways and the remainder of NY 234 became an extension of NY 31.
Route description
Most of NY 31 is owned by the state of New York and maintained by 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); however, some sections of the route—mostly within cities—are locally owned and maintained. In the cities of Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
and 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...
, NY 31 is completely city-owned. Another city-maintained section exists in the city of Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
from Washburn Street (five blocks east of NY 78
New York State Route 78
New York State Route 78 , most commonly known as Transit Road, is a state highway in Western New York, USA. While it is signed north–south, the lower portion runs in an east–west direction across Wyoming County, from its beginning north of the Village of Gainesville.NY 78 is...
) to the eastern city line. Two villages—Medina
Medina, New York
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
and Newark
Newark, New York
Newark is a village in Wayne County, New York, U.S., south east of Rochester. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census.The Village of Newark is in the south part of the Town of Arcadia and is in the south of Wayne County.- History :...
—also maintain parts of NY 31. In Medina, the locally owned section begins at the Falls Road Railroad
Falls Road Railroad
The Falls Road Railroad is a Class III short line railroad owned by Genesee Valley Transportation. The railroad operates in Niagara, Orleans, and Monroe counties in New York. The railroad's right-of-way consists of of track, known as the Falls Road Branch, that were acquired from Conrail on...
crossing in the village center and ends at Center Street (NY 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
). The portion in Newark, meanwhile, extends from Mason Street (one block west of NY 88
New York State Route 88
New York State Route 88 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 96 in the Ontario County village of Phelps to a junction with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of Sodus...
) to the eastern village line.
As of 2009, the most heavily-trafficked segments of NY 31 lie in and around the city of Rochester. The busiest of these, from Interstate 590 (I-590) to NY 65
New York State Route 65
New York State Route 65 is a north–south state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 in the Ontario County town of West Bloomfield to a junction with NY 96 in the Monroe County...
in the eastern suburb 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...
, carries in excess of 40,000 vehicles per day on average. Two other segments—between South and Woodbury Avenues in downtown Rochester and from NY 65 to French Road in Brighton and Pittsford
Pittsford (town), New York
Pittsford is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and is an affluent suburb of Rochester. The population was 29,405 at the 2010 census....
—have traffic volumes in excess of 30,000 vehicles. On the other hand, the portion of NY 31 in the Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
town of Vernon
Vernon (town), New York
Vernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census.The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county...
between the Vernon Downs
Vernon Downs
Vernon Downs is a horse racing track, racino and entertainment facility located in the town of Vernon in central New York.On February 11, 2008, the casino closed down after the New York State Assembly's Racing and Wagering Committee failed to pass a bill that would allow Vernon Downs and other...
racetrack and Youngs Road handles just 910 cars per day on average, making it the least-traveled segment of the route.
Western New York
Route 31 begins at an intersection with NY 104New 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 northern Niagara Falls. After a short distance eastward through the northern fringe of the city as College Avenue, the road encounters NY 61
New York State Route 61
New York State Route 61 is a state highway located almost entirely in the city of Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York in the United States. The road runs across the city in a northwest–southeast direction, terminating at NY 384 at its southern extent and NY 104 at its northern...
at the northeastern city line. NY 31 continues northeastward into the town of Niagara
Niagara, New York
Niagara is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 8,378. The town is named after the famous waterfall Niagara Falls....
, following Witmer Road to an interchange with I-190
Interstate 190 (New York)
Interstate 190 runs 28.34 miles from Interstate 90 near Buffalo, New York to Lewiston, New York via Niagara Falls. Parts of this highway were built on the former rights-of-way of the Lehigh Valley Railroad and the Erie Canal. It is referred to by locals as The One-Ninety...
at exit 24. Past I-190, NY 31 meets NY 265
New York State Route 265
New York State Route 265 is a state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. NY 265 is a north–south route that roughly parallels the western parts of the Niagara River in Erie County and Niagara County...
south of the Robert Moses Niagara Power Plant reservoir. At the intersection, NY 31 becomes Saunders Settlement Road, a name it retains for almost 15 miles (24 km). Continuing through Niagara County
Niagara County, New York
Niagara County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 216,469. The county seat is Lockport. The county name is from the Iroquois word Onguiaahra; meaning the strait or thunder of waters. It is the location of Niagara Falls and Fort Niagara, and...
, Route 31 passes the south end of the Tuscarora Indian Reservation ahead of a brief overlap with NY 429
New York State Route 429
New York State Route 429 is a north–south state highway located entirely within Niagara County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 265 and NY 384 in North Tonawanda to a junction with NY 104 on the border between the towns of Cambria...
. Past the east end of the concurrency, NY 429 travels north toward Route 104 while NY 31 continues east past Niagara County Community College
Niagara County Community College
Niagara County Community College is located in Sanborn, New York, USA northeast of the City of Niagara Falls. NCCC offers associate's degrees in many programs. Niagara County Community College was founded in 1962 and is sponsored by Niagara County and SUNY. The new campus opened in 1973...
to an intersection with NY 425
New York State Route 425
New York State Route 425 is a New York state highway that runs from NY 18 in Wilson, New York on the shore of Lake Ontario to a connection with Interstate 290 in the Town of Tonawanda...
, the final state route that NY 31 intersects before entering the Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
area.
West of Lockport, NY 31 crosses NY 270
New York State Route 270
New York State Route 270 is a north–south state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs through rural and wooded areas of the town of Amherst in Erie County and the town of Pendleton in Niagara County. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 263...
and NY 93
New York State Route 93
New York State Route 93 is a state highway in western New York in the United States. It runs in a northwest–southeast direction between NY 18F near the Niagara River in the village of Youngstown and NY 5 just south of the village of Akron...
. Continuing into the city, NY 31 meets NY 78
New York State Route 78
New York State Route 78 , most commonly known as Transit Road, is a state highway in Western New York, USA. While it is signed north–south, the lower portion runs in an east–west direction across Wyoming County, from its beginning north of the Village of Gainesville.NY 78 is...
(Transit Street) at an intersection partially located over 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...
. Route 31 heads eastward through Lockport, intersecting the northern terminus of NY 77
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
at the eastern edge of the city. While NY 77 continues along the right-of-way of NY 31, NY 31 exits, following a northeasterly alignment through Gasport
Gasport, New York
Gasport is a hamlet located in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from observed natural gas and the historic Erie Canal port at that location...
to Middleport
Middleport, New York
Middleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, where it acts as the western and southern terminus of NY 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
and NY 271
New York State Route 271
New York State Route 271 is a north–south state highway in eastern Niagara County, New York, in the United States. It primarily serves as Middleport's Main Street, connecting NY 31 in the south to NY 104 in the north. The southernmost portion of NY 271 is concurrent with...
, respectively. Just east of town, NY 31 crosses the first of nine county lines along its routing, entering Orleans County
Orleans County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
.
At an intersection south of Medina
Medina, New York
Medina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
, NY 31A
New York State Route 31A
New York State Route 31A is an east–west state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31 from the western part of Orleans County to the far western part of Monroe County...
branches off, continuing straight from NY 31 while NY 31 turns north to overlap NY 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
for a short distance between NY 31A and NY 31E in Medina. At NY 31E, NY 31 separates from NY 63, following the path of NY 31E east out of the village. 10 miles (16 km) to the east, Route 31 crosses NY 98
New York State Route 98
New York State Route 98 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 219 in the town of Great Valley in Cattaraugus County...
in Albion
Albion (village), Orleans County, New York
Albion is a village in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 7,438 at the 2000 census. The village is centrally located in the county and is partly in both the towns of Albion and Gaines. It is the county seat of Orleans County and is about west north-west of the City of...
. Midway between Albion and Holley
Holley, New York
Holley is a village in the town of Murray in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The village of Holley was incorporated in 1850...
, NY 31 intersects the southern end of NY 387
New York State Route 387
New York State Route 387 is a state highway located within the town of Murray in Orleans County, New York, in the United States. It serves as a north–south connector between NY 31 in the hamlet of Fancher and NY 104 midway between the hamlets of East Gaines and Murray...
. NY 31 continues to the southeast, entering Holley and intersecting NY 237
New York State Route 237
New York State Route 237 is a north–south state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 5 in Stafford. Its northern terminus is at an interchange with the Lake Ontario State Parkway...
in the village center. The route quickly leaves Holley soon after, crossing into 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....
just over a mile (about 1.6 km) from the village line.
Western suburbs and downtown
Just inside the Monroe County line, the road traverses the Erie CanalErie 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...
before intersecting Redman Road about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west of the village of Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
. NY 31 turns south here, following Redman Road back across the Erie Canal and past the western fringe of the SUNY Brockport
State University of New York at Brockport
The College at Brockport: State University of New York, also known as SUNY Brockport, Brockport State, College at Brockport, or the State University of New York at Brockport, is a four-year liberal arts college located in Brockport, Monroe County, New York, United States, near Rochester...
campus to a junction with Fourth Section Road. NY 31A enters the intersection from the west and ends at NY 31 while the latter turns east onto Fourth Section Road. NY 31 progresses eastward, intersecting NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
in a commercialized area directly south of Brockport and becoming Brockport-Spencerport Road. East of the village in the surrounding town of Sweden
Sweden, New York
Sweden is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The town is located on the west border of the county. The Erie Canal passes through the northern part of the town and Route 19 is a major north-south highway. The population was 14,175 at the 2010 census.- History :This town was part of...
, NY 31 meets the southern terminus of NY 260
New York State Route 260
New York State Route 260 is a 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 31 in the town of Sweden. Its northern terminus is at a junction with the Lake Ontario State Parkway in the town of...
. The route continues eastward, paralleling the Erie Canal as it enters Ogden
Ogden, New York
Ogden is a town in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 19,856 at the 2010 census.The Erie Canal passes through the Town of Ogden.-Geography:...
, where NY 31 comes to the current western terminus of NY 531
New York State Route 531
New York State Route 531 is a limited-access, east–west state highway located in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. The route extends for from the far northwestern suburbs of Rochester to the town of Gates located just west of the city...
, the Spencerport Expressway, and, shortly after, the northern terminus of NY 36
New York State Route 36
New York State Route 36 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway extends for from the Pennsylvania state line at Troupsburg, Steuben County northward to Ogden, Monroe County, where it ends at an intersection with NY 31...
. Route 31, now sandwiched by the canal to the north and NY 531 to the south, heads eastward into the village of Spencerport
Spencerport, New York
Spencerport is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States, and a suburb of Rochester, New York. The population count was 3,559 at the 2000 census.The Village of Spencerport is within the Town of Ogden and is a village on the Erie Canal....
, where it becomes Nichols Street and meets NY 259
New York State Route 259
New York State Route 259 is a north–south state highway located west of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at NY 33A in the hamlet of West Chili within the town of Chili. Its northern terminus is at the Lake Ontario State Parkway in...
in the center of the community.
Outside of Spencerport, NY 31 becomes Spencerport Road as it heads eastward into the town of 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 past residential neighborhoods to the north and mostly undeveloped land to the south as it enters the hamlet of Elmgrove, built up around NY 31's junction with NY 386
New York State Route 386
New York State Route 386 is a north–south state highway located in the western suburbs of the city of Rochester in Monroe County, New York, in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 383 in the village of Scottsville. The northern end of the highway is...
. Not far to the east, NY 31 enters North Gates, a densely populated residential community near the northern town line of Gates. In the southeastern outskirts of the community, NY 31 intersects Lyell and Howard Roads at a junction that once served as the western terminus 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...
. NY 31 continues east from here as Lyell Avenue, meeting NY 390
New York State Route 390
New York State Route 390 is a north–south state highway located along the western edge of the city of Rochester, New York, in the United States. The route, a limited-access northward continuation of Interstate 390 , extends for from I-490 in Gates to the Lake Ontario State Parkway in...
at an interchange immediately north of the route's larger interchange with 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...
. Not far to the east is 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, which NY 31 crosses upon traversing the Erie Canal once again.
Route 31 follows Lyell Avenue through the city to West Broad Street, where it turns to follow Broad Street southeastward past Marina Auto Stadium. It heads onward toward a pair of overpasses, one carrying I-490 and another holding 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...
. Route 31 continues under both, following the former path of the Erie Canal southeast through the city to the eastern terminus of NY 33
New York State Route 33
New York State Route 33 is an east–west state highway in western New York in the United States. The route extends for just under from NY 5 in Buffalo in the west to NY 31 in Rochester in the east. It is, in fact, the only state highway that directly connects both cities, although...
at West Main Street. NY 31 follows West Main Street to the east, passing under I-490 once again before breaking from Main Street and occupying East Broad Street. The street proceeds to the east, passing through the commercial heart of the city. Just east of Exchange Boulevard, the northern terminus of 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...
, the route crosses the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
on the Broad Street Aqueduct.
East of the waterway, NY 31 follows East Broad Street to South Avenue, where it turns south for two blocks to a junction with Woodbury Boulevard. It turns east here, following Woodbury Boulevard for two blocks to Chestnut Street, at which point NY 31 turns southward to follow Chestnut Street. Westbound NY 31 in the area, however, follows one block of Woodbury Boulevard and two blocks of South Clinton Avenue to reach East Broad Street. At the Inner Loop
Inner Loop (Rochester)
The Inner Loop is an expressway that encloses downtown Rochester, New York, in the United States. Although the expressway is a continuous loop, only the portion of the loop north of Interstate 490 is signed as the "Inner Loop"...
, Chestnut Street becomes Monroe Avenue, the name NY 31 retains to Pittsford
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
. Over this stretch, NY 31 maintains a constant southeasterly progression as it passes though southeastern Rochester and 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...
. As the route exits downtown Rochester, it intersects I-490 at exit 18. The route continues onward, passing Cobbs Hill Park and entering Brighton, where it traverses areas more commercial in nature and meets the former routing of NY 47 a second time in an area of town known as Twelve Corners.
Eastern suburbs and Wayne County
In the eastern portion of Brighton, NY 31 meets I-590Interstate 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...
by way of an interchange and intersects NY 65
New York State Route 65
New York State Route 65 is a north–south state highway located in the western portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with U.S. Route 20 and NY 5 in the Ontario County town of West Bloomfield to a junction with NY 96 in the Monroe County...
. From NY 65, NY 31 continues southeast into the town of Pittsford
Pittsford (town), New York
Pittsford is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and is an affluent suburb of Rochester. The population was 29,405 at the 2010 census....
, passing along the southern fringe of Oak Hill Country Club
Oak Hill Country Club
Oak Hill Country Club, located in the Town of Pittsford, New York, a suburb of Rochester, has a rich history of golf. It started out in 1901 as only 9 holes on 85 acres on the banks of the Genesee River in Rochester. The clubhouse was no more than a converted farm house...
and paralleling the former right-of-way of the Auburn Road railroad line to the village of Pittsford
Pittsford (town), New York
Pittsford is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and is an affluent suburb of Rochester. The population was 29,405 at the 2010 census....
. Just inside the village limits, Route 31 crosses the Erie Canal once more and intersects the West Shore Subdivision
West Shore Subdivision
The West Shore Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. state of New York. The line runs from Fairport, CP-359, west to North Chili, CP-382, along a former New York Central Railroad line. Both of its ends are at the Rochester Subdivision; it provides a southern bypass...
at-grade. In the village center, NY 31 intersects 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 of NY 96, the route crosses over the Erie Canal once again and exits the village. Outside of the village, NY 31 parallels I-490 for a short distance across slightly open areas before connecting to the freeway near the Perinton
Perinton, New York
Perinton is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 46,090 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fairport, New York is within the town on the Erie Canal. Perinton is adjacent to the village of East Rochester , and the towns of Victor , Macedon , Pittsford , and Penfield...
town line at exit 26. The route continues east into Perinton, where it traverses the Erie Canal for one final time within the county and crosses NY 250
New York State Route 250
New York State Route 250 is a north–south state highway in the eastern portion of Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for just over from an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Perinton to a junction with Lake Road near the Lake Ontario shoreline in the...
near Perinton Square Mall.
East of the mall, the route passes through increasingly rural areas, with the exception of the hamlet of Egypt midway between NY 250 and the Wayne County
Wayne County, New York
Wayne County is a county located in the US state of New York. It is part of the Rochester, New York Metropolitan Statistical Area and lies on the south shore of Lake Ontario, forming part of the northern border of the United States with Canada. The name honors General Anthony Wayne, an American...
line. NY 31 progresses onward into Wayne County, where the Rochester suburbs end as the route heads eastward through the mostly rural town of Macedon
Macedon (town), New York
Macedon is a town in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 9,148 at the 2010 census. The town is named after the ancient Macedonian Kingdom of Macedon, the birthplace of Alexander the Great....
to the village of the same name
Macedon (village), New York
Macedon is a village located in the Town of Macedon in Wayne County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 1,523....
. Prior to exiting the village, Route 31 meets the southern terminus of NY 350
New York State Route 350
New York State Route 350 is a north–south state highway in western Wayne County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 31 and NY 31F in the village of Macedon to a junction with NY 104 in the town of Ontario...
and the eastern terminus of NY 31F
New York State Route 31F
New York State Route 31F is an east–west state highway located in the vicinity of Rochester, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 96 north of the Monroe County village of Pittsford. Its eastern terminus is at a junction...
. The highway continues on, exiting the village and proceeding eastward through the town of Macedon, bordered by the Erie Canal to the north and Ganargua Creek to the south. In Palmyra
Palmyra (village), New York
Palmyra is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 3,490 at the 2000 census. The village, along with the town, is named after Palmyra in present-day Syria.The Village of Palmyra is in the Town of Palmyra...
, NY 31 joins NY 21
New York State Route 21
New York State Route 21 is a state highway extending for through the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at NY 417 in Andover. The northern terminus is at NY 104 in Williamson...
through the center of the village.
From Palmyra east, the route parallels the Erie Canal for a considerable distance. Between Palmyra and Newark
Newark, New York
Newark is a village in Wayne County, New York, U.S., south east of Rochester. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census.The Village of Newark is in the south part of the Town of Arcadia and is in the south of Wayne County.- History :...
, NY 31 dips into Ontario County
Ontario County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 100,224 people, 38,370 households, and 26,360 families residing in the county. The population density was 156 people per square mile . There were 42,647 housing units at an average density of 66 per square mile...
for less than a mile (about 1.6 km) before reentering Wayne County. In Newark
Newark, New York
Newark is a village in Wayne County, New York, U.S., south east of Rochester. The population was 9,682 at the 2000 census.The Village of Newark is in the south part of the Town of Arcadia and is in the south of Wayne County.- History :...
, NY 31 intersects NY 88
New York State Route 88
New York State Route 88 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 96 in the Ontario County village of Phelps to a junction with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of Sodus...
. Farther east, in Lyons
Lyons (village), New York
Lyons is a village in Wayne County, New York, USA. The population was 3,695 at the 2000 census. The village, along with the town, is named after Lyon , France....
, it crosses NY 14
New York State Route 14
New York State Route 14 is a state highway located in western New York in the United States. Along with NY 19, it is one of two routes to transect the state in a north–south fashion between the Pennsylvania border and Lake Ontario...
and the Erie Canal. At Clyde
Clyde, New York
Clyde is a village in Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 2,269 at the 2000 census.The Village of Clyde is in the Town of Galen and is northeast of Geneva, NY...
, NY 31 briefly overlaps NY 414
New York State Route 414
New York State Route 414 is a north–south state highway in the Southern Tier and Finger Lakes regions of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 352 in the Steuben County city of Corning to a junction with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of Huron...
in the center of the village. Outside of Clyde, the Erie Canal veers off to the southeast while NY 31 continues east alongside the Rochester Subdivision to the hamlet of Savannah
Savannah, New York
Savannah is a town in the southeast portion of Wayne County, New York, United States. The population was 1,838 at the 2000 census. Savannah is west of Syracuse, New York...
, the final centralized community within Wayne County. Here, NY 31 intersects NY 89
New York State Route 89
New York State Route 89 is a north–south state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 13, NY 34, and NY 96 in the Tompkins County city of Ithaca to an interchange with NY 104 in the Wayne County town of town of Wolcott...
and follows it southward toward the Seneca County
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
line. At the county line, NY 89 turns west to follow the county line while NY 31 heads southeast into Seneca County. The route proceeds across the northeastern most corner of the county before crossing into Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
via a bridge over the Erie Canal after just 1.5 miles (2.4 km).
Central New York
Shortly after entering Cayuga County, NY 31 crosses and begins to parallel the New York State ThruwayNew York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(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...
), which NY 31 does for most of its routing west of the outer Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
suburbs. In Port Byron
Port Byron, New York
Port Byron is a village in Cayuga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,297 at the 2000 census. The village is believed to be named after Lord Byron.The Village of Port Byron is in the Town of Mentz and is north of Auburn, New York....
, NY 31 intersects NY 38
New York State Route 38
New York State Route 38 is a north–south state highway in the Finger Lakes region of New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is at an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Owego in Tioga County. The northern terminus is at a junction with NY 104A in the town of...
in the center of the village. The routes embark on an overlap through the village before separating near the eastern edge of Port Byron. Route 31 continues alone to Weedsport
Weedsport, New York
Weedsport is a village in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,017 at the 2000 census. The name is from Elihu and Edward Weed, merchants who helped found the village....
, where the route meets NY 34
New York State Route 34
New York State Route 34 is a north–south New York state route located in Central New York. Its southern terminus is at the Pennsylvania state line in the village of Waverly, where it connects to Pennsylvania Route 199 and meets NY 17...
and County Route 31B (CR 31B, formerly NY 31B
New York State Route 31B
New York State Route 31B was a state highway in Cayuga County and Onondaga County, New York, in the United States. It served as a connector between NY 31, its parent route, in Weedsport and NY 5 in the town of Elbridge. NY 31B was assigned ca...
) north of the village. East of Weedsport, NY 31 and the Thruway are joined by the CSX Rochester Subdivision mainline, which runs down the center of the strip of land created by the Thruway to the north and NY 31 to the south.
Onondaga County, New York
Onondaga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 467,026. The county seat is Syracuse.Onondaga County is part of the Syracuse, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and the village of Jordan
Jordan, New York
Jordan is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, NY 31 begins to make a turn northward while connecting to the northern end of NY 317
New York State Route 317
New York State Route 317 is a long state highway within the town of Elbridge in Onondaga County, New York, United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 5 in the village of Elbridge and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the village of Jordan...
(the former northern terminus of NY 31C) a short distance north of the village center. With the turn complete, NY 31 traverses the CSX mainline and the Thruway via successive overpasses before returning to level ground and resuming an eastward alignment in the shadow of the Thruway. Once inside the limits of Van Buren
Van Buren, New York
Van Buren is a town located in Onondaga County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 12,667. The town is named after future President Martin van Buren, who was then governor of the state....
, NY 31 separates from the Thruway, curving north and intersecting the western terminus of NY 173
New York State Route 173
New York State Route 173 is a state highway located in the Syracuse area of central New York, United States. It takes a slightly bow-shaped route from NY 31 in the town of Van Buren to NY 5 in Chittenango, gently curving to the south of Downtown Syracuse in the center of its routing...
in quick succession. The alignment remains fairly straight to the outskirts of Baldwinsville
Baldwinsville, New York
Baldwinsville is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,053 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, where NY 31 turns to the right onto Downer Street to avoid the Seneca River
Seneca River (New York)
The Seneca River in central New York flows from west to east, from Seneca Lake, through the Montezuma Marsh at the north end of Cayuga Lake to the Seneca's confluence with the Oneida and Oswego rivers at the Three Rivers area north of Syracuse. Much of the river has been channelized to form part...
to the immediate north. The eastward progression is limited, however, as NY 31 merges with NY 690
New York State Route 690
New York State Route 690 is a state highway in Central New York. NY 690's southern terminus is at an interchange with the New York State Thruway and Interstate 690 in Van Buren. The northern terminus is at an intersection with NY 48 and NY 631 in Lysander...
northward, traversing the Seneca River and straddling the western edge of Baldwinsville.
On the north bank of the river, NY 31 exits NY 690 but joins NY 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
at the end of the exit ramp. Together, NY 31 and 370 enter Baldwinsville, intersecting NY 48
New York State Route 48
New York State Route 48 is a north–south state highway in Central New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is located at Interstate 690 exit 3 near the interchange between I-690 and the New York State Thruway in Van Buren, northwest of Syracuse...
in the village center. Three blocks from NY 48, NY 370 splits from NY 31. As NY 370 heads for downtown Syracuse
Syracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, NY 31 continues east, overlapping NY 631
New York State Route 631
New York State Route 631 is a state highway in Onondaga County, New York. The southern terminus is at NY 370 in Baldwinsville. The northern terminus is at NY 48 and NY 690 just north of Baldwinsville.-Route description:...
for a short distance before passing through Lysander New Community and crossing the Seneca River again. Now in the town of Clay
Clay, New York
Clay is a town in Onondaga County, New York, USA. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 58,805, making it Syracuse's largest suburb. The town was named after Henry Clay, statesman....
, NY 31 meets NY 481
New York State Route 481
New York State Route 481 is a state highway in Central New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with Interstate 81 in North Syracuse, where the highway continues southeastward as I-481. Its northern terminus is located at an intersection...
at an interchange in the shadow of the Great Northern Mall
Great Northern Mall
The Great Northern Mall is a regional shopping mall located in the Syracuse suburb of Clay, New York.In addition to its 80 stores, a food court, and a 10-screen Regal Cinemas multiplex, the mall is the pre-eminent shopping center for Syracuse's northern suburbs and Oswego County...
. Route 31 continues eastward through the town to Cicero
Cicero, New York
Cicero is a town in Onondaga County, New York, USA. The population was 27,982 at the 2000 census. The name of the town was assigned by a clerk interested in the classics, honoring Cicero, a Roman statesman....
, where it meets US 11
U.S. Route 11 in New York
U.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
and I-81
Interstate 81 in New York
Interstate 81 is a part of the Interstate Highway System that runs from Dandridge, Tennessee, to the Canada – United States border at Wellesley Island in New York. In the U.S. state of New York, I-81 extends from the Pennsylvania state line southeast of Binghamton to the Canadian border...
at exit 30. As NY 31 heads away from I-81, Oneida Lake
Oneida Lake
Oneida Lake is the largest lake entirely within New York State . The lake is located northeast of Syracuse and near the Great Lakes. It serves as one of the links in the Erie Canal. It empties into the Oneida River which flows into the Oswego River which in turn flows into Lake Ontario...
slowly becomes visible to the north. NY 31 comes within a mile (about 1.6 km) of the lakeshore before turning slightly to parallel the shoreline. Near the Madison County
Madison County, New York
Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 73,442. It is named after James Madison, fourth President of the United States of America...
line, here delimited by Chittenango Creek
Chittenango Creek
Chittenango Creek is a small river in central New York, USA. Chittenango Creek flows northward through Chittenango into Oneida Lake near the community of Bridgeport and partially forms the boundary between Onondaga County and Madison County...
, NY 31 enters the western half of Bridgeport
Bridgeport, New York
Bridgeport is a hamlet located partly in the Town of Sullivan in Madison County, New York and partly in the Town of Cicero in Onondaga County, New York...
and meets the eastern terminus of NY 298
New York State Route 298
New York State Route 298 is an east–west state highway located entirely within Onondaga County, New York, in the United States. It runs in a generally northeast direction for from an interchange with Interstate 690 in the city of Syracuse to an intersection with NY 31 near the...
near the banks of the creek. NY 31 continues eastward, crossing the creek and entering Madison County and the remaining portion of Bridgeport.
East of Bridgeport, NY 31 moves closer to Oneida Lake, eventually coming to within 200 yards (182.9 m) of the lakeshore at points. Near the eastern edge of Oneida Lake, NY 31 intersects NY 13
New York State Route 13
New York State Route 13 is a state highway that runs mainly north–south for between NY 14 in Horseheads and NY 3 west of Pulaski in Central New York in the United States. In between, NY 13 intersects with Interstate 81 in Cortland and Pulaski and meets the New York...
in the hamlet of South Bay
South Bay, New York
South Bay is a small hamlet on the south east corner of Oneida Lake in New York State....
. To the east, NY 31 meets the northern terminus of NY 316
New York State Route 316
New York State Route 316 is a state highway in Madison County, New York, in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 46 in the city of Oneida and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the hamlet of Oneida Valley, located in the town of Lenox...
at a junction adjacent to the Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
line, again marked by a body of water, the Oneida Creek
Oneida Creek
Oneida Creek is a small river in New York in the USA. The creek enters Oneida Lake at its southeast corner at a location known as South Bay, a bay of the lake...
. NY 31 traverses the creek and proceeds eastward through the Oneida County town of Verona
Verona, New York
Verona is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 6,425 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is unknown, though it's possibly named after Verona, Italy....
. Northeast of Oneida
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
, NY 31 intersects NY 46
New York State Route 46
New York State Route 46 is a state highway in Central New York, United States. It extends from NY 12B in the Madison County town of Eaton to NY 12D in the Oneida County village of Boonville. NY 46 passes through the cities of Oneida and Rome.-Madison County:NY 46 begins at...
adjacent to the path of the old routing of 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...
. Farther east, Route 31 intersects NY 365
New York State Route 365
New York State Route 365 is an east–west state highway in the central portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 5 east of the Oneida County city of Oneida to a junction with NY 8 in the Herkimer County town of Ohio...
just north of its interchange with the Thruway. The Turning Stone Resort & Casino, located 2 miles (3 km) south of the intersection, is accessible via NY 365.
Past NY 365, NY 31 passes over the Thruway (I-90) for the final time. The route continues southeast into the town of Vernon
Vernon (town), New York
Vernon is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 5,335 at the 2000 census.The Town of Vernon is on the western border of the county...
and the village of the same name
Vernon (village), New York
Vernon is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,155 at the 2000 census.The Village of Vernon is located east of the center of the Town of Vernon at the junction of Routes 5 and 31.-History:...
within, where NY 31 intersects NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
. NY 31 joins NY 5, following the route eastward for about 0.75 miles (1.21 km) out of the village to Stuhlman Road. Here, NY 31 splits from NY 5 and follows Stuhlman Road southward, passing to the east of Vernon Downs
Vernon Downs
Vernon Downs is a horse racing track, racino and entertainment facility located in the town of Vernon in central New York.On February 11, 2008, the casino closed down after the New York State Assembly's Racing and Wagering Committee failed to pass a bill that would allow Vernon Downs and other...
before intersecting Youngs Road. Stuhlman Road ends here; however, NY 31 turns eastward onto Youngs Road, following it into the hamlet of Vernon Center. The route continues eastward into the center of the community, where it ends at a large traffic circle
Traffic circle
A traffic circle or rotary is a type of circular intersection in which traffic must travel in one direction around a central island. In some countries, traffic entering the circle has the right-of-way and drivers in the circle must yield. In many other countries, traffic entering the circle must...
with NY 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
.
Early designations
In 1908, the New York State Legislature established a statewide 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...
system that initially consisted of 37 unsigned
Unsigned highway
An unsigned highway is a highway that has been assigned a route number, but does not bear conventional road markings that would normally be used to identify the route with that number...
routes. Much of what is now NY 31 west of Jordan
Jordan, New York
Jordan is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
became part of one of three routes, namely Route 14, Route 20, and Route 30. Route 30 began at the Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls, New York
Niagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
city line (delimited by modern NY 61
New York State Route 61
New York State Route 61 is a state highway located almost entirely in the city of Niagara Falls in Niagara County, New York in the United States. The road runs across the city in a northwest–southeast direction, terminating at NY 384 at its southern extent and NY 104 at its northern...
) and followed current NY 31 east to Sanborn
Sanborn, New York
Sanborn is a hamlet in the Towns of Cambria Wheatfield, New York and Lewiston, New York, USA, on the southeast corner of the intersection of New York State Route 429 and New York State Route 31. Originally called South Pekin after the formerly thriving hamlet of Pekin to the north, Sanborn was...
, where it turned north onto modern NY 429
New York State Route 429
New York State Route 429 is a north–south state highway located entirely within Niagara County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 265 and NY 384 in North Tonawanda to a junction with NY 104 on the border between the towns of Cambria...
. The route followed current NY 429 to Ridge Road
Ridge Road (Western New York)
Ridge Road is a east–west road that traverses four counties in Upstate New York in the United States. It is named for the rise atop which the road was built, a mound of sand and gravel that was formed when it was the shoreline of ancient Glacial Lake Iroquois...
in Porter
Porter, New York
Porter is a town in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 6,771 at the 2010 census. The town was named after Judge Augustus Porter....
, at which point it turned to follow Ridge Road eastward to what is now NY 63
New York State Route 63
New York State Route 63 is a state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 15 and NY 21 in the village of Wayland in Steuben County. Its northern end is at a junction with NY 18 in the town...
in Ridgeway
Ridgeway, New York
Ridgeway, New York is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,886 at the 2000 census. The name of the town is derived from "Ridge Road," an important highway in the 19th century....
. Route 30 went south here, utilizing modern NY 63 between Ridgeway and Medina. It rejoined what is now NY 31 in the latter location and proceeded eastward on roughly current NY 31 to 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. In the vicinity of Brockport
Brockport, New York
Brockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
, however, Route 30 was routed on West Avenue and modern NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
instead. From the southeastern city line to 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...
in the village of Pittsford
Pittsford (village), New York
Pittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
, Monroe Avenue (modern NY 31) was part of Route 14, which turned south onto South Main Street in the center of Pittsford. Lastly, the segment what is now NY 31 between current NY 31F
New York State Route 31F
New York State Route 31F is an east–west state highway located in the vicinity of Rochester, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 96 north of the Monroe County village of Pittsford. Its eastern terminus is at a junction...
and NY 350
New York State Route 350
New York State Route 350 is a north–south state highway in western Wayne County, New York, in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 31 and NY 31F in the village of Macedon to a junction with NY 104 in the town of Ontario...
in the village of Macedon
Macedon (village), New York
Macedon is a village located in the Town of Macedon in Wayne County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 1,523....
and NY 317
New York State Route 317
New York State Route 317 is a long state highway within the town of Elbridge in Onondaga County, New York, United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 5 in the village of Elbridge and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the village of Jordan...
in Jordan was part of Route 20.
Two spur routes were added to the definition of Route 30 in 1914. One of these, a route connecting Lockport
Lockport (city), New York
Lockport is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 21,165 at the 2010 census. The name is derived from a set of Erie canal locks within the city. Lockport is the county seat of Niagara County and is surrounded by the town of Lockport...
to Medina, utilized what is now NY 31 from the Lockport city line to NY 77
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
and from Gasport Road in Gasport
Gasport, New York
Gasport is a hamlet located in the Town of Royalton in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,248 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from observed natural gas and the historic Erie Canal port at that location...
to Medina (via modern NY 31E
New York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
). On March 1, 1921, several routes were altered or eliminated as part of a partial renumbering of the legislative route system. Among these was Route 30, which was modified to follow Ridge Road instead between Ridgeway and Rochester. Its former routing from Medina eastward and the Lockport spur of Route 30 mostly became part of an extended Route 20, which now began in North Tonawanda
North Tonawanda, New York
North Tonawanda is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 31,568 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area. The city is named after Tonawanda Creek, its south border...
and followed modern NY 425 and Lower Mountain, Gothic Hill, and Upper Mountain Roads north and east through Cambria Center to Lockport. From Middleport
Middleport, New York
Middleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
to Medina, however, Route 20 was routed on modern NY 31 instead. East of Rochester, the section of Route 20 between Fairport
Fairport, New York
Fairport is a village located in the town of Perinton which is part of Monroe County, New York. Fairport is a suburb east of Rochester. It is also known as the "Crown Jewel of the Erie Canal"...
and Macedon was reconfigured to utilize what is now NY 250
New York State Route 250
New York State Route 250 is a north–south state highway in the eastern portion of Monroe County, New York, in the United States. It extends for just over from an intersection with NY 96 in the town of Perinton to a junction with Lake Road near the Lake Ontario shoreline in the...
and NY 31.
Assignment
The first set of posted routes in New York were assigned in 1924. At this time, all of legislative Route 20 west of Rochester became part of NY 3New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
, a cross-state route that began in North Tonawanda and ended in Plattsburgh
Plattsburgh (city), New York
Plattsburgh is a city in and county seat of Clinton County, New York, United States. The population was 19,989 at the 2010 census. The population of the unincorporated areas within the Town of Plattsburgh was 11,870 as of the 2010 census; making the population for the immediate, urban Plattsburgh,...
. By 1926, NY 31 was assigned to an alignment extending from Niagara Falls to Oneida
Oneida, New York
Oneida is a city in Madison County located west of Oneida Castle and east of Canastota, New York, United States. The population was 10,987 at the 2000 census. The city, like both Oneida County and the nearby silver and china maker, takes its name from the Oneida tribe...
. The route began at NY 34 (now 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 Niagara Falls and followed College Avenue east to the city line, from where it continued eastward to Rochester on the alignment of legislative Route 30. Within 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...
, NY 31 continued east on Ridge Road to Lake Avenue, where it turned south to enter downtown Rochester, becoming State Street at Lyell Avenue. At East Main Street, NY 31 resumed its eastward alignment, crossing the Genesee River
Genesee River
The Genesee River is a North American river flowing northward through the Twin Tiers of Pennsylvania and New York. The river provided the original power for the Rochester area's 19th century mills and still provides hydroelectric power for downtown Rochester....
and continuing on Main Street to Monroe Avenue, which, at the time, connected directly with Main Street. NY 31 turned right on Monroe Avenue, rejoining its present alignment of NY 31 near Union Street.
East of Rochester, NY 31 continued eastward to Jordan, utilizing the Rochester–Pittsford portion of legislative Route 14, the Perinton
Perinton, New York
Perinton is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 46,090 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fairport, New York is within the town on the Erie Canal. Perinton is adjacent to the village of East Rochester , and the towns of Victor , Macedon , Pittsford , and Penfield...
–Jordan segment of Route 20, and its current alignment between Pittsford and Perinton. From Weedsport
Weedsport, New York
Weedsport is a village in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,017 at the 2000 census. The name is from Elihu and Edward Weed, merchants who helped found the village....
to Jordan, NY 31 used a slightly different routing. It initially exited the village on Clinton Road and followed that road to Jordan, where NY 31 turned north and followed modern NY 317
New York State Route 317
New York State Route 317 is a long state highway within the town of Elbridge in Onondaga County, New York, United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 5 in the village of Elbridge and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the village of Jordan...
and NY 31 north and east to modern CR 84. NY 31 turned north here, using what is now Old Route 31, current NY 31, and Downer Street to reach Baldwinsville
Baldwinsville, New York
Baldwinsville is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 7,053 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
. Within the village, NY 31 followed Downer Street and what is now NY 48
New York State Route 48
New York State Route 48 is a north–south state highway in Central New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is located at Interstate 690 exit 3 near the interchange between I-690 and the New York State Thruway in Van Buren, northwest of Syracuse...
along Syracuse Street between Downer and Genesee Streets. Outside of Baldwinsville, NY 31 remained on its current routing to Cicero
Cicero, New York
Cicero is a town in Onondaga County, New York, USA. The population was 27,982 at the 2000 census. The name of the town was assigned by a clerk interested in the classics, honoring Cicero, a Roman statesman....
, where it followed a more northerly alignment along Lakeshore Road. It rejoined its modern alignment near the eastern town line, and followed it east to what is now NY 316
New York State Route 316
New York State Route 316 is a state highway in Madison County, New York, in the United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 46 in the city of Oneida and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the hamlet of Oneida Valley, located in the town of Lenox...
in Lenox
Lenox, New York
Lenox is a town in Madison County, New York, United States. The population was 8,665 as of the 2000 census.The Town of Lenox is on the county's northern border. It is west of the City of Oneida.- History :...
. From here, NY 31 went southeastward to NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in Oneida by way of modern NY 316 and NY 46
New York State Route 46
New York State Route 46 is a state highway in Central New York, United States. It extends from NY 12B in the Madison County town of Eaton to NY 12D in the Oneida County village of Boonville. NY 46 passes through the cities of Oneida and Rome.-Madison County:NY 46 begins at...
.
Truncations and extensions
In the late 1920s, NY 31 was rerouted west of what is now NY 429 to follow Ridge Road to Lewiston, where it ended at then-NY 34. The former routing of NY 31 into downtown Niagara Falls was redesignated as NY 31A. In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, NY 31 was realigned east of Oneida Valley to continue east to UticaUtica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
by way of its modern alignment plus Spring and Lowell Roads and several city streets. At the same time, NY 3 was realigned to continue west to Niagara Falls over modern NY 31, overlapping NY 31A west of Sanborn. Two other portions of NY 3—from the modern junction of NY 31 and NY 77
New York State Route 77
New York State Route 77 is a north–south state highway in the western part of New York in the United States. The highway runs for across mostly rural areas from an intersection with NY 78 and NY 98 in the Wyoming County town of Java to a junction with NY 31 near the city of...
east of Lockport to Gasport and between Middleport and Medina—were also realigned at this time to use modern NY 31 and the old routing of legislative Route 30 Spur along modern NY 31E, respectively.
Ca. 1932, what is now NY 31 from NY 365
New York State Route 365
New York State Route 365 is an east–west state highway in the central portion of New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 5 east of the Oneida County city of Oneida to a junction with NY 8 in the Herkimer County town of Ohio...
in Verona
Verona, New York
Verona is a town in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 6,425 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is unknown, though it's possibly named after Verona, Italy....
to NY 5 in Vernon
Vernon (village), New York
Vernon is a village in Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 1,155 at the 2000 census.The Village of Vernon is located east of the center of the Town of Vernon at the junction of Routes 5 and 31.-History:...
became part of NY 234, a north–south highway that continued south to NY 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
in Vernon Center by way of NY 5 and Churton and Youngs Roads. Also around this time, NY 3 was realigned between Shawnee and Lockport to use Saunders Settlement Road. US 104, meanwhile, was assigned ca. 1935, following Ridge Road from Niagara Falls east to Maple View in Oswego County
Oswego County, New York
Oswego County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 Census, the estimated population was 122,109. The City of Oswego and the Village of Pulaski serve as the dual county seats in a two shire system of government...
. The assignment of the highway led to the reconfiguration of several state highways in western
Western New York
Western New York is the westernmost region of the state of New York. It includes the cities of Buffalo, Rochester, Niagara Falls, the surrounding suburbs, as well as the outlying rural areas of the Great Lakes lowlands, the Genesee Valley, and the Southern Tier. Some historians, scholars and others...
and central New York
Central New York
Central New York is a term used to broadly describe the central region of New York State, roughly including the following counties and cities:...
, including NY 3 and NY 31. The latter route was rerouted west of Rochester to follow the former alignment of NY 3 to Niagara Falls while NY 3 was truncated to a location in northern Cayuga County
Cayuga County, New York
Cayuga County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was named for one of the tribes of Indians in the Iroquois Confederation. Its county seat is Auburn.- History :...
. At the same time, NY 31A was reassigned to a new alignment
New York State Route 31A
New York State Route 31A is an east–west state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31 from the western part of Orleans County to the far western part of Monroe County...
extending from Middleport to Knowlesville via Medina.
NY 31 was truncated to NY 365 in Verona in the early 1940s; as a result, NY 31 and NY 234 now had a common terminus. Despite this fact, the two routes continued to co-exist for the next 40 years. On April 1, 1981, ownership and maintenance of the Churton Road portion of NY 234 was transferred from the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Oneida County
Oneida County, New York
Oneida County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 234,878. The county seat is Utica. The name is in honor of the Oneida, an Iroquoian tribe that formerly occupied the region....
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. Two of highways that the state received in return were Stuhlman Road (CR 81) and the segment of Youngs Road (CR 13) between Stuhlman Road and Churton Road (NY 234). The two new state highways did not become a rerouting of NY 234, however, as the NY 234 designation was eliminated at this time. Instead, NY 31 was extended southeastward over NY 234's former routing to Vernon, from where it continued to Vernon Center by way of NY 5, Stuhlman and Youngs Roads. Churton Road was redesignated as CR 94.
Realignments
Several small-scale realignments of NY 31 have occurred over the years. Ca. 1938, NY 31 was altered to follow its modern alignment through Cicero, bypassing Lakeshore Road to the south. In the late 1930s, NY 31 was moved onto a new, more northern highway between Weedsport and Jordan. The section of the route between Middleport and Medina was shifted southward in the late 1940s to follow what had been NY 31A between the two villages. NY 31's old northerly routing became NY 31ENew York State Route 31E
New York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
. The portion of NY 31 northeast of Jordan was straightened at some point in the late 1970s or early 1980s to bypass the hamlet of Jacks Reef to the south and east. In the early 1980s, NY 31 was rerouted near Baldwinsville to follow NY 690
New York State Route 690
New York State Route 690 is a state highway in Central New York. NY 690's southern terminus is at an interchange with the New York State Thruway and Interstate 690 in Van Buren. The northern terminus is at an intersection with NY 48 and NY 631 in Lysander...
and NY 370
New York State Route 370
New York State Route 370 is an east–west state highway in central New York in the United States. It extends for from an intersection with NY 104 and NY 104A south of the Wayne County village of Red Creek to a junction with U.S. Route 11 in the Onondaga County city of Syracuse...
into the village.
Around the same time as the Baldwinsville realignment, NY 31 was moved onto its current alignment southwest of Brockport, bypassing the village on Redman and Fourth Section Roads and eliminating an overlap with NY 19
New York State Route 19
New York State Route 19 is a north–south state highway in Western New York in the United States. It is the longest state highway in that region, and the only other one besides NY 14 to completely transect the state from the Pennsylvania state line to the shore of Lake Ontario...
. The new alignment of NY 31 utilized part of NY 31A
New York State Route 31A
New York State Route 31A is an east–west state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31 from the western part of Orleans County to the far western part of Monroe County...
, which was truncated westward to the junction of Redman and Fourth Section Roads. Reference marker
Reference marker (New York)
In New York, a reference marker is a small green sign mounted approximately every one-tenth mile on highways maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation. This was initiated in response to the Highway Safety Act of 1966 enacted by Congress, in an effort to monitor traffic and...
s along the Fourth Section Road segment still read "31A". The former routing of NY 31 into Brockport became NY 943B, an unsigned reference route, and later also became part of NY 19 Truck. The Redman Road portion of NY 31, meanwhile, was initially maintained by 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....
as part of CR 236. In 2007, ownership and maintenance of the Redman Road segment of NY 31 was transferred from Monroe County to the state of New York as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. A bill (S4856, 2007) to enact the swap was introduced in the New York State Senate
New York State Senate
The New York State Senate is one of two houses in the New York State Legislature and has members each elected to two-year terms. There are no limits on the number of terms one may serve...
on April 23 and passed by both the Senate and the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
on June 20. The act was signed into law by Governor Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Spitzer
Eliot Laurence Spitzer is an American lawyer, former Democratic Party politician, and political commentator. He was the co-host of In the Arena, a talk-show and punditry forum broadcast on CNN until CNN cancelled his show in July of 2011...
on August 28. Under the terms of the act, it took effect 90 days after it was signed into law; thus, the maintenance swap officially took place on November 26, 2007.
Rochester
The portion of NY 31 in downtown Rochester between Brown Street and South Avenue runs along the old path of the Erie CanalErie 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...
through the city. When the canal was diverted to bypass the city to the south in 1920, the canal bed became part of the 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...
while a 4000 feet (1,219 m) bridge was built over the bed to carry a new street named Broad Street. None of Broad Street was initially part of NY 31, however; when NY 31 replaced NY 3 west of Rochester ca. 1935, it entered the city by way of NY 3's old routing on Lyell Avenue and rejoined its original alignment at State Street. In the late 1930s, NY 31 was realigned through downtown to follow Smith and Bausch Streets east across the Genesee River and St. Paul Street and South Avenue south to Woodbury Boulevard, which at the time connected to Monroe Avenue one block to the east at South Clinton Avenue. NY 31 was altered once again ca. 1964 to leave Lyell Avenue at Broad Street and follow West and East Broad Streets through downtown to South Avenue.
From West Main Street to South Avenue, the bridge supports were largely built with concrete while the supports on the section between Brown Street and West Main Street were mostly built with steel. Unlike the concrete supports, the steel supports flexed throughout the year, creating holes and gaps in the pavement on the deck above. The city of Rochester, which owns and maintains the section of NY 31 within the city, closed the outer northbound lane of West Broad Street (westbound NY 31) between Brown and Main Streets in June 2008 for this reason.
In February 2010, work began on a $17.5 million project to either demolish or rehabilitate the Broad Street bridge between Brown Street and Exchange Boulevard (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...
). As part of the project, the section of the bridge between Brown and West Main Streets would be removed—allowing for the canal bed to be filled in and the road to be rebuilt—while the segment between West Main Street and Exchange Boulevard would be rehabilitated. The portion of Broad Street between Allen and Main Streets was closed to all traffic in February and was originally scheduled to open on October 30. It finally reopened to traffic on December 3.
Farther north, work on the segment between Brown and Allen Streets was performed on one side at a time, keeping one side of Broad Street open at all times. The northbound lanes of this segment were closed on April 7, and one direction of the segment was closed until November. It fully reopened on December 3 along with the West Main Street – Allen Street segment. Rehabilitation of Broad Street from West Main Street to Exchange Boulevard is expected to be completed in mid-to-late 2011. The entire project, which also calls for landscape improvements to the area surrounding West Broad Street, is tentatively scheduled to be finished in February 2012.
Suffixed routes
NY 31 has had as many as eight suffixed routes using six different designations; all but three have been eliminated or renumbered.- The NY 31A designation has been used for three distinct highways, two of which briefly co-existed:
- The first NY 31A was a connector between NY 31 in JordanJordan, New YorkJordan is a village in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 1,314 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and NY 5New York State Route 5New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in the village of ElbridgeElbridge (village), New YorkThe Village of Elbridge, is a village located in the western part of the Town of Elbridge and the western area of Onondaga County, New York, USA, about west of Syracuse. It is part of the Syracuse Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...
. It was assigned in the mid-1920s and absorbed by NY 41New York State Route 41New York State Route 41 is a north–south state highway in Central New York, United States. The southern terminus of the route is at an interchange with NY 17 in the town of Sanford. Its northern terminus is at an intersection with U.S. Route 20 in the village of Skaneateles...
in the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York. - The second NY 31A was an alternate route of NY 31 between Niagara FallsNiagara Falls, New YorkNiagara Falls is a city in Niagara County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 50,193, down from the 55,593 recorded in the 2000 census. It is across the Niagara River from Niagara Falls, Ontario , both named after the famed Niagara Falls which they...
and CambriaCambria, New YorkCambria is a town in Niagara County, New York, USA. The population was 5,839 at the 2010 census. Cambria is an early name for Wales.The Town of Cambria is in the center of Niagara County.New York State Route 93 passes through the town.- History :...
via SanbornSanborn, New YorkSanborn is a hamlet in the Towns of Cambria Wheatfield, New York and Lewiston, New York, USA, on the southeast corner of the intersection of New York State Route 429 and New York State Route 31. Originally called South Pekin after the formerly thriving hamlet of Pekin to the north, Sanborn was...
. It was assigned in the late 1920s and mostly supplanted by a realigned NY 31 ca. 1935. - The current NY 31ANew York State Route 31ANew York State Route 31A is an east–west state highway located in the western part of New York in the United States. It serves as a southerly alternate route of NY 31 from the western part of Orleans County to the far western part of Monroe County...
(22.89 miles or 36.84 km) is an alternate route of NY 31 between the villages of MedinaMedina, New YorkMedina is a village in the towns of Shelby and Ridgeway in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 6,415 at the 2000 census, making it the second most populous municipality in the county after Albion, the county seat. The village was named by its surveyor...
and BrockportBrockport, New YorkBrockport is a village located in the Town of Sweden in Monroe County, New York, USA. The population was 8,103 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Hiel Brockway, an early settler....
. The route bypasses Medina, Albion, and HolleyHolley, New YorkHolley is a village in the town of Murray in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 1,802 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Rochester Metropolitan Statistical Area.- History :The village of Holley was incorporated in 1850...
to the south via ClarendonClarendon, New YorkClarendon is a town in Orleans County, New York, United States. The population was 3,392 at the 2000 census. The name is derived from Clarendon, Vermont.The Town of Clarendon is in the southeast part of the county...
. It was assigned ca. 1935.
- The first NY 31A was a connector between NY 31 in Jordan
- The NY 31B designation has been used for two distinct highways:
- The first NY 31B was a short-lived connector in CiceroCicero, New YorkCicero is a town in Onondaga County, New York, USA. The population was 27,982 at the 2000 census. The name of the town was assigned by a clerk interested in the classics, honoring Cicero, a Roman statesman....
that linked Lakeshore Road (at the time NY 31) to US 11U.S. Route 11 in New YorkU.S. Route 11 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from New Orleans, Louisiana, to the Canadian border at Rouses Point, New York...
by way of Mud Mill Road. It was assigned ca. 1932 and removed ca. 1933. - The second NY 31BNew York State Route 31BNew York State Route 31B was a state highway in Cayuga County and Onondaga County, New York, in the United States. It served as a connector between NY 31, its parent route, in Weedsport and NY 5 in the town of Elbridge. NY 31B was assigned ca...
was a connector linking NY 31 in WeedsportWeedsport, New YorkWeedsport is a village in Cayuga County, New York, USA. The population was 2,017 at the 2000 census. The name is from Elihu and Edward Weed, merchants who helped found the village....
to NY 5 in the town of ElbridgeElbridge (town), New YorkElbridge is a town in Onondaga County, New York, United States. The population was 6,091 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Elbridge Gerry, a Vice President of the United States, and one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence....
. The designation was assigned ca. 1933 and removed in 1980. It was replaced with CR 31B in Cayuga County and CR 99 in Onondaga County.
- The first NY 31B was a short-lived connector in Cicero
- NY 31C was a connector between NY 31 in Jordan to NY 5 in Elbridge. It was assigned ca. 1933 and partially replaced by NY 317New York State Route 317New York State Route 317 is a long state highway within the town of Elbridge in Onondaga County, New York, United States. It begins at an intersection with NY 5 in the village of Elbridge and ends at a junction with NY 31 in the village of Jordan...
in 2003. - NY 31D was a spur that extended from the Orleans CountyOrleans County, New YorkAs of the census of 2000, there were 44,171 people, 15,363 households, and 10,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 113 people per square mile . There were 17,347 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
line to NY 31 south of Brockport in Monroe County. The route was assigned ca. 1935 and became the easternmost portion of NY 31A ca. 1963. - NY 31ENew York State Route 31ENew York State Route 31E is a state highway located in Western New York in the United States. It serves as a northerly alternate route of NY 31 between the village of Middleport in eastern Niagara County and the nearby village of Medina in Orleans County...
(5.29 miles or 8.51 km) is an alternate route of NY 31 between the villages of MiddleportMiddleport, New YorkMiddleport is a village in Niagara County, New York, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. The mail ZIP code is 14105. It is part of the Buffalo–Niagara Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area....
and Medina. It was assigned in the late 1940s. - NY 31FNew York State Route 31FNew York State Route 31F is an east–west state highway located in the vicinity of Rochester, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with NY 96 north of the Monroe County village of Pittsford. Its eastern terminus is at a junction...
(13.59 miles or 21.87 km) is an alternate route of NY 31 that extends from NY 96New York State Route 96New 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...
in PittsfordPittsford (town), New YorkPittsford is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States and is an affluent suburb of Rochester. The population was 29,405 at the 2010 census....
to NY 31 in MacedonMacedon (village), New YorkMacedon is a village located in the Town of Macedon in Wayne County, New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the village had a total population of 1,523....
. The route bypasses PittsfordPittsford (village), New YorkPittsford is a village in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 1,418 at the 2000 census. It is named after Pittsford, Vermont, the native town of a founding father....
and southern PerintonPerinton, New YorkPerinton is a town in Monroe County, New York, United States. The population was 46,090 at the 2000 census.The Village of Fairport, New York is within the town on the Erie Canal. Perinton is adjacent to the village of East Rochester , and the towns of Victor , Macedon , Pittsford , and Penfield...
to serve East RochesterEast Rochester, New YorkEast Rochester is a coterminous town and village located southeast of the City of Rochester in Monroe County, New York. The village, home to about 6,587 people, is bounded by Pittsford to the west and south and Perinton to the north and east. The southern boundary is delimited by New York State...
and FairportFairport, New YorkFairport is a village located in the town of Perinton which is part of Monroe County, New York. Fairport is a suburb east of Rochester. It is also known as the "Crown Jewel of the Erie Canal"...
. It was assigned in the late 1940s.