New York State Route 409
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 409 (NY 409) is a state highway
in Schuyler County, New York
, in the United States. It is more of a spur route
as it is connected to the state highway system at only one end. It begins at a grade crossing with the Norfolk Southern Railway
in the town of Dix
and ends in downtown Watkins Glen
at a junction with NY 14
and NY 414
. Its western terminus is also the upper entrance to the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park
. NY 409 is known as Station Road in Dix and as Steuben Street and West 4th Street in Watkins Glen. The route was assigned by 1970 and follows part of the original Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course
.
in the town of Dix
, where maintenance of Station Road shifts from Dix to the New York State Department of Transportation
. The route initially heads to the northeast through an isolated rural area, running along the northern fringe of Watkins Glen State Park
to the western edge of a valley overlooking Seneca Lake and the village of Watkins Glen
. Here, NY 409 turns northward, slowly descending into the gorge as it crosses into the town of Reading
. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the route curves back to the east and rapidly descends in elevation on its way into the village of Watkins Glen.
Now named Steuben Street, NY 409 first meets the southern terminus of County Route 28 (CR 28), which links Watkins Glen to Hammondsport
by way of CR 23. The route continues on, proceeding southeastward across residential sections of the village, bisecting several blocks of homes in the process. The route continues downhill into Watkins Glen's business district, where Steuben Street turns northeastward and becomes West 4th Street at South Madison Avenue, a north–south street serving as a divider between the village's residential and commercial districts. NY 409 ends one block later at an intersection with Franklin Street, which carries NY 14
and NY 414
through Watkins Glen. At this point, NY 414 leaves NY 14 and continues to the northeast along NY 409's right-of-way on East 4th Street.
, a road course around Watkins Glen State Park that also included NY 329
, Franklin Street (NY 14
and NY 414
), and Whites Hollow Road. The first race on the road took place on October 2, 1948; the last was on September 20, 1952. During the 1952 race, a car briefly entered the crowd that had lined up along the course, killing one person and injuring several others. The race was stopped immediately and moved to another, more rural location in 1953. The entirety of the old Grand Prix road course was added to the National Register of Historic Places
on December 4, 2002. NY 409, meanwhile, was assigned to its current alignment by 1970.
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...
in Schuyler County, New York
Schuyler County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 19,224 people, 7,374 households, and 5,191 families residing in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile . There were 9,181 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, in the United States. It is more of a spur route
Spur route
A spur route is a short road forming a branch from a longer, more important route . A bypass or beltway is never considered a true spur route as it typically reconnects with the major road...
as it is connected to the state highway system at only one end. It begins at a grade crossing with the Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
in the town of Dix
Dix, New York
Dix is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 4,197 at the 2000 census.The Town of Dix is located on the south border of the county and is north of Elmira, New York.- History :...
and ends in downtown Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
at a junction with 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 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...
. Its western terminus is also the upper entrance to the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is located on the edge of the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The main feature of the park is the hiking trail that climbs up through the gorge, passing over and under waterfalls...
. NY 409 is known as Station Road in Dix and as Steuben Street and West 4th Street in Watkins Glen. The route was assigned by 1970 and follows part of the original Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, 1948–1952
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, 1948–1952 is a historic Grand Prix auto race track located at Watkins Glen in Schuyler County, New York. It includes the public rights of way that constituted the route of the original 6.6-mile Watkins Glen Grand Prix course used from 1948 to 1952...
.
Route description
NY 409 begins at a grade crossing with the Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
in the town of Dix
Dix, New York
Dix is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 4,197 at the 2000 census.The Town of Dix is located on the south border of the county and is north of Elmira, New York.- History :...
, where maintenance of Station Road shifts from Dix to 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...
. The route initially heads to the northeast through an isolated rural area, running along the northern fringe of Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park
Watkins Glen State Park is located on the edge of the village of Watkins Glen, New York, south of Seneca Lake in Schuyler County. The main feature of the park is the hiking trail that climbs up through the gorge, passing over and under waterfalls...
to the western edge of a valley overlooking Seneca Lake and the village of Watkins Glen
Watkins Glen, New York
Watkins Glen is a village in Schuyler County, New York, United States. The population was 2,149 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Schuyler County.The Village of Watkins Glen lies on the border of the towns of Dix and Montour....
. Here, NY 409 turns northward, slowly descending into the gorge as it crosses into the town of Reading
Reading, New York
Reading is a town in Schuyler County, New York, United States.The Town of Reading is in the northern part of the county and is east of Bath, NY.- History :The first pioneers arrived around 1798.The first tavern opened in 1801....
. After 0.5 mile (0.80467 km), the route curves back to the east and rapidly descends in elevation on its way into the village of Watkins Glen.
Now named Steuben Street, NY 409 first meets the southern terminus of County Route 28 (CR 28), which links Watkins Glen to Hammondsport
Hammondsport, New York
Hammondsport is a village in Steuben County, New York, United States. The population was 731 at the 2000 census. The village is named after its founding father.The Village of Hammondsport is in the Town of Urbana and is northeast of Bath, New York....
by way of CR 23. The route continues on, proceeding southeastward across residential sections of the village, bisecting several blocks of homes in the process. The route continues downhill into Watkins Glen's business district, where Steuben Street turns northeastward and becomes West 4th Street at South Madison Avenue, a north–south street serving as a divider between the village's residential and commercial districts. NY 409 ends one block later at an intersection with Franklin Street, which carries 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 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...
through Watkins Glen. At this point, NY 414 leaves NY 14 and continues to the northeast along NY 409's right-of-way on East 4th Street.
History
From 1948 to 1952, modern NY 409 was part of the Watkins Glen Grand Prix CourseWatkins Glen Grand Prix Course, 1948–1952
Watkins Glen Grand Prix Course, 1948–1952 is a historic Grand Prix auto race track located at Watkins Glen in Schuyler County, New York. It includes the public rights of way that constituted the route of the original 6.6-mile Watkins Glen Grand Prix course used from 1948 to 1952...
, a road course around Watkins Glen State Park that also included NY 329
New York State Route 329
New York State Route 329 is a long state highway near Watkins Glen, New York, in the United States. The western terminus is at an intersection with Meads Hill Road in Dix. The eastern terminus is at a junction with NY 14 and NY 414 in Watkins Glen...
, Franklin Street (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 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...
), and Whites Hollow Road. The first race on the road took place on October 2, 1948; the last was on September 20, 1952. During the 1952 race, a car briefly entered the crowd that had lined up along the course, killing one person and injuring several others. The race was stopped immediately and moved to another, more rural location in 1953. The entirety of the old Grand Prix road course was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on December 4, 2002. NY 409, meanwhile, was assigned to its current alignment by 1970.