New York State Route 345
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 345 (NY 345) is a state highway
located entirely within St. Lawrence County
in the North Country
of New York
in the United States. It is a north–south route connecting the towns of Waddington
and Potsdam
by way of the town of Madrid
. The southern terminus of NY 345 is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11
(US 11) in the village of Potsdam
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37
in the village of Waddington
by the St. Lawrence River.
NY 345 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York; however, it originally followed a different alignment south of the hamlet of Madrid. At the time, what is now NY 345 between Madrid and Potsdam was part of NY 56A. The NY 56A designation was eliminated in 1980. NY 345 was realigned two years later to follow old NY 56A to Potsdam as a result of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and St. Lawrence County. Ownership and maintenance of NY 345's original routing south of Madrid was transferred from the state to the county and the village of Canton
as part of the exchange.
in the village of Potsdam
, just north of Clarkson University
. The route heads northwestward on Pine Street and Madrid Avenue as a village-maintained, state-numbered highway, crossing the CSX Transportation
-owned St. Lawrence Subdivision by way of a grade crossing as it heads through a commercial and residential area. It exits the village shortly afterward, at which point the route becomes maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation
. It heads northwestward on a linear path through the town of Potsdam
, passing through mostly undeveloped areas comprising open fields and forests. NY 345 curves slightly northward at Burnham Corners before crossing Trout Brook and entering the town of Madrid
, where it traverses the New York and Ogdensburg Railway
by way of a grade crossing just outside of the hamlet of Madrid.
The highway continues into the community, where the route becomes Bridge Street and intersects NY 310
on the eastern bank of the Grasse River
. It continues across the river to Main Street, at which point NY 345 turns to the northeast and follows Main Street out of the hamlet. North of Madrid, NY 345 curves back to the northwest as it enters another rural area. It passes by the isolated Madrid-Waddington Central School
just before crossing into the town of Waddington
. The rural surroundings continue to the village of Waddington
, where the amount of development along the route increases after the highway crosses Sucker Brook south of the village center. NY 345 ends shortly afterward at an intersection with NY 37
in the village center near the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River.
in Canton
. From there, NY 345 followed modern County Route 27 (CR 27) and CR 14 north to Madrid
, where it joined its modern alignment north to Waddington
. At the same time, the current alignment of NY 345 from modern NY 310
in Madrid to Potsdam
was designated as the southern half of NY 56A. The short piece of Bridge Street not part of NY 56A in Madrid was a state-maintained reference route.
On April 10, 1980, the NY 56A designation was deleted. The portion of former NY 56A from Madrid to Potsdam, as well as the state-maintained Bridge Street connector, became part of a rerouted NY 345 on September 1, 1982, as a result of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and St. Lawrence County
. As part of the swap, the pre-1982 routing of NY 345 between the Canton village line and Bridge Street in Madrid was turned over to the county while the portion of former NY 345 within Canton was transferred to the village.
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
located entirely within St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
in the North Country
North Country, New York
The North Country is a region of the U.S. state of New York that encompasses the state's extreme northern frontier, bordering Lake Ontario on the west, the Saint Lawrence River and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec on the north and northwest, and Lake Champlain and Vermont on the east...
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...
in the United States. It is a north–south route connecting the towns of Waddington
Waddington (town), New York
Waddington is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 2,212 at the 2000 census. The town was named after its principal village.The Town of Waddington has a village, also called Waddington...
and Potsdam
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
by way of the town of Madrid
Madrid, New York
Madrid is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,828 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Madrid in Spain.The Town of Madrid is in the northern part of the county, north of Canton....
. The southern terminus of NY 345 is at an intersection with U.S. Route 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...
(US 11) in the village of Potsdam
Potsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
in the village of Waddington
Waddington (village), New York
Waddington is a village located in the Town of Waddington in St. Lawrence County, New York. The population was 923 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Joshua Waddington....
by the St. Lawrence River.
NY 345 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York; however, it originally followed a different alignment south of the hamlet of Madrid. At the time, what is now NY 345 between Madrid and Potsdam was part of NY 56A. The NY 56A designation was eliminated in 1980. NY 345 was realigned two years later to follow old NY 56A to Potsdam as a result of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and St. Lawrence County. Ownership and maintenance of NY 345's original routing south of Madrid was transferred from the state to the county and the village of Canton
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
as part of the exchange.
Route description
NY 345 begins at an intersection with US 11U.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...
in the village of Potsdam
Potsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
, just north of Clarkson University
Clarkson University
-The Clarkson School:The Clarkson School, a special division of Clarkson University, was founded in 1978 as a unique educational opportunity. The School offers students an early entrance opportunity into college, replacing the typical senior year of high school with a year of college...
. The route heads northwestward on Pine Street and Madrid Avenue as a village-maintained, state-numbered highway, crossing 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 St. Lawrence Subdivision by way of a grade crossing as it heads through a commercial and residential area. It exits the village shortly afterward, at which point the route becomes maintained by the New York State Department of Transportation
New 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...
. It heads northwestward on a linear path through the town of Potsdam
Potsdam (town), New York
Potsdam is a town located in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 15,957 at the 2000 census. The ZIP code is 13676. The town is named after the city of Potsdam in Germany...
, passing through mostly undeveloped areas comprising open fields and forests. NY 345 curves slightly northward at Burnham Corners before crossing Trout Brook and entering the town of Madrid
Madrid, New York
Madrid is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,828 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Madrid in Spain.The Town of Madrid is in the northern part of the county, north of Canton....
, where it traverses the New York and Ogdensburg Railway
New York and Ogdensburg Railway
The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority owns two segments of shortline railroad that are operated by a private contractor d/b/a the New York and Ogdensburg Railway...
by way of a grade crossing just outside of the hamlet of Madrid.
The highway continues into the community, where the route becomes Bridge Street and intersects NY 310
New York State Route 310
New York State Route 310 is a north–south state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of the U.S. state of New York. The southern terminus is at NY 68 and U.S. Route 11 in the town of Canton, just east of the village of Canton...
on the eastern bank of the Grasse River
Grasse River
The Grasse River or Grass River is a river in northern New York, in the United States...
. It continues across the river to Main Street, at which point NY 345 turns to the northeast and follows Main Street out of the hamlet. North of Madrid, NY 345 curves back to the northwest as it enters another rural area. It passes by the isolated Madrid-Waddington Central School
Madrid-Waddington Central School
Madrid-Waddington Central School, often shortened to MWCS, is a public school consisting of both elementary school and high school located in Madrid, New York. It is a small, rural district located in St. Lawrence County on State Highway 345 between the communities of Madrid and Waddington, New York...
just before crossing into the town of Waddington
Waddington (town), New York
Waddington is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 2,212 at the 2000 census. The town was named after its principal village.The Town of Waddington has a village, also called Waddington...
. The rural surroundings continue to the village of Waddington
Waddington (village), New York
Waddington is a village located in the Town of Waddington in St. Lawrence County, New York. The population was 923 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Joshua Waddington....
, where the amount of development along the route increases after the highway crosses Sucker Brook south of the village center. NY 345 ends shortly afterward at an intersection with NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
in the village center near the southern bank of the St. Lawrence River.
History
When NY 345 was assigned as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York, it began at US 11U.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...
in Canton
Canton (village), New York
Canton is a village in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The village is centrally located in both the town of Canton and the county of St. Lawrence. The population was 5,882 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of St. Lawrence County...
. From there, NY 345 followed modern County Route 27 (CR 27) and CR 14 north to Madrid
Madrid, New York
Madrid is a town in St. Lawrence County, New York, United States. The population was 1,828 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Madrid in Spain.The Town of Madrid is in the northern part of the county, north of Canton....
, where it joined its modern alignment north to Waddington
Waddington (village), New York
Waddington is a village located in the Town of Waddington in St. Lawrence County, New York. The population was 923 at the 2000 census. The village is named after Joshua Waddington....
. At the same time, the current alignment of NY 345 from modern NY 310
New York State Route 310
New York State Route 310 is a north–south state highway located entirely within St. Lawrence County in the North Country of the U.S. state of New York. The southern terminus is at NY 68 and U.S. Route 11 in the town of Canton, just east of the village of Canton...
in Madrid to Potsdam
Potsdam (village), New York
Potsdam is a village located in the Town of Potsdam in St. Lawrence County, New York, USA. The population was 9,425 at the 2000 census.The Village of Potsdam is in the eastern part of the town and is northeast of Canton, the county seat....
was designated as the southern half of NY 56A. The short piece of Bridge Street not part of NY 56A in Madrid was a state-maintained reference route.
On April 10, 1980, the NY 56A designation was deleted. The portion of former NY 56A from Madrid to Potsdam, as well as the state-maintained Bridge Street connector, became part of a rerouted NY 345 on September 1, 1982, as a result of a highway maintenance swap between the state of New York and St. Lawrence County
St. Lawrence County, New York
St. Lawrence County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 111,944. The county seat is Canton. The county is named for the Saint Lawrence River, which in turn was named for the Catholic saint on whose Feast day the river was discovered by...
. As part of the swap, the pre-1982 routing of NY 345 between the Canton village line and Bridge Street in Madrid was turned over to the county while the portion of former NY 345 within Canton was transferred to the village.