New York State Route 438
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 438 (NY 438) is a north–south state highway
located entirely in Erie County, New York
, in the United States. Though signed as north–south, the route runs in an almost east–west direction for 11.78 miles (18.96 km) between Gowanda
and Irving
through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 62
(US 62) and NY 39
in Gowanda. Its northern terminus is at a junction with US 20
and NY 5
in Irving. The route was assigned in the mid-1940s. Although it is signed as a state route, maintenance of the route is handled by four different jurisdictions—none of which is the state of New York.
and NY 39
in northern Gowanda
. The route heads north, inheriting the Buffalo Street moniker from US 62 and NY 39, which turn east at NY 438's southern terminus. Outside of the village in Collins
, the route becomes Four Mile Level Road as it curves westward into the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. As its name implies, the route traverses relatively level terrain for a stretch of roughly 4 miles (6 km) as it parallels the northern bank of Cattaraugus Creek
to the northwest and west. During this stretch, NY 438 intersects both Versailles–Plank Road (County Route 19 or CR 19) and Brant Road (southern terminus of CR 9) and crosses over the narrow Clear Creek.
As it approaches Irving
, NY 438 becomes Irving–Gowanda Road, named for the communities at each terminus. The route heads northwest across undeveloped but level terrain, crossing over the New York State Thruway
(Interstate 90) without connecting to the highway. NY 438 comes to an end shortly afterward at a junction with US 20
and NY 5
northeast of Irving in the town of Brant
. Access to the Thruway is made via exit 58, located a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest on US 20 and NY 5 in Irving, a hamlet in the adjacent Cattaraugus County
town of Hanover
.
Unlike most state routes, NY 438 is entirely locally maintained. From its southern terminus to the Gowanda village line, a distance of 0.16 mile (0.2574944 km), the route is maintained by the village of Gowanda. In Collins, the highway is town-maintained from the village line to a junction with Aldrich Street Extension 0.27 mile (0.4345218 km) north of Gowanda. The next 0.32 mile (0.5149888 km) are maintained by Erie County
as CR 504, while the remainder of NY 438 is maintained by the government of the Cattaraugus Reservation
.
, 61.5 metres (201.8 ft) in length, was constructed in 1958. Farther east, the 39 metres (128 ft) bridge over Clear Creek was originally built in 1935 and reconstructed in 1992.
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 in Erie County, New York
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
, in the United States. Though signed as north–south, the route runs in an almost east–west direction for 11.78 miles (18.96 km) between Gowanda
Gowanda, New York
Gowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills...
and Irving
Irving, New York
Irving is a hamlet located in Chautauqua County, New York, USA. It is located near the east town line and the eastern county line in the Town of Hanover. US Route 20 and New York State Route 5 pass through the hamlet, which is also next to Cattaraugus Creek; New York State Route 438 terminates just...
through the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation
Cattaraugus Reservation, Erie County, New York
Cattaraugus Reservation is an Indian reservation located partly in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 2,001 at the 2000 census....
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 62
U.S. Route 62 in New York
U.S. Route 62 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from the United States – Mexico border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York. In the U.S. state of New York, US 62 extends from the New York – Pennsylvania border south of Jamestown to an intersection with...
(US 62) and NY 39
New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39 is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 apart...
in Gowanda. Its northern terminus is at a junction with US 20
U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
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...
in Irving. The route was assigned in the mid-1940s. Although it is signed as a state route, maintenance of the route is handled by four different jurisdictions—none of which is the state of New York.
Route description
NY 438 begins at an intersection with US 62U.S. Route 62 in New York
U.S. Route 62 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from the United States – Mexico border at El Paso, Texas, to Niagara Falls, New York. In the U.S. state of New York, US 62 extends from the New York – Pennsylvania border south of Jamestown to an intersection with...
and NY 39
New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39 is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 apart...
in northern Gowanda
Gowanda, New York
Gowanda is a village in New York in the United States and lies partly in Erie County and partly in Cattaraugus County. The population was 2,842 at the 2000 census. The name is a local native term meaning "almost surrounded by hills" or "beautiful place among the hills...
. The route heads north, inheriting the Buffalo Street moniker from US 62 and NY 39, which turn east at NY 438's southern terminus. Outside of the village in Collins
Collins, New York
Collins is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. The town is on the south border of the county and is considered to be one of the "Southtowns" of Erie County. The population indicated by the 2000 census was 8,307. The population for 2007 is estimated at 7,092, a loss of 1,215...
, the route becomes Four Mile Level Road as it curves westward into the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation. As its name implies, the route traverses relatively level terrain for a stretch of roughly 4 miles (6 km) as it parallels the northern bank of Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek
Cattaraugus Creek is a stream, approximately 68 miles long, in western New York in the United States. The creek drains a wooded rural portion of western New York southwest of Buffalo into Lake Erie. In its lower course it flows primarily through the Cattaraugus Reservation of the Seneca tribe...
to the northwest and west. During this stretch, NY 438 intersects both Versailles–Plank Road (County Route 19 or CR 19) and Brant Road (southern terminus of CR 9) and crosses over the narrow Clear Creek.
As it approaches Irving
Irving, New York
Irving is a hamlet located in Chautauqua County, New York, USA. It is located near the east town line and the eastern county line in the Town of Hanover. US Route 20 and New York State Route 5 pass through the hamlet, which is also next to Cattaraugus Creek; New York State Route 438 terminates just...
, NY 438 becomes Irving–Gowanda Road, named for the communities at each terminus. The route heads northwest across undeveloped but level terrain, crossing over the New York State Thruway
New 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...
(Interstate 90) without connecting to the highway. NY 438 comes to an end shortly afterward at a junction with US 20
U.S. Route 20 in New York
U.S. Route 20 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Newport, Oregon, to Boston, Massachusetts. In the U.S. state of New York, US 20 extends from the Pennsylvania state line at Ripley to the Massachusetts state line in the Berkshire Mountains. US 20 is the longest...
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...
northeast of Irving in the town of Brant
Brant, New York
Brant is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 U.S. census, the town had a population of 1,906. The town was named after the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant....
. Access to the Thruway is made via exit 58, located a mile (1.6 km) to the southwest on US 20 and NY 5 in Irving, a hamlet in the adjacent Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County, New York
Cattaraugus County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 80,317. The county seat is Little Valley.-History:...
town of Hanover
Hanover, New York
Hanover is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 7,638 at the 2000 census.The Town of Hanover lies in the northeast corner of Chautauqua County.- History :The first settler arrived in 1796....
.
Unlike most state routes, NY 438 is entirely locally maintained. From its southern terminus to the Gowanda village line, a distance of 0.16 mile (0.2574944 km), the route is maintained by the village of Gowanda. In Collins, the highway is town-maintained from the village line to a junction with Aldrich Street Extension 0.27 mile (0.4345218 km) north of Gowanda. The next 0.32 mile (0.5149888 km) are maintained by Erie County
Erie County, New York
Erie County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 919,040. The county seat is Buffalo. The county's name comes from Lake Erie, which in turn comes from the Erie tribe of American Indians who lived south and east of the lake before 1654.Erie...
as CR 504, while the remainder of NY 438 is maintained by the government of the Cattaraugus Reservation
Cattaraugus Reservation, Erie County, New York
Cattaraugus Reservation is an Indian reservation located partly in Erie County, New York, United States. The population was 2,001 at the 2000 census....
.
History
NY 438 was assigned to the entirety of its current alignment in the mid-1940s. The bridge carrying NY 438 over 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...
, 61.5 metres (201.8 ft) in length, was constructed in 1958. Farther east, the 39 metres (128 ft) bridge over Clear Creek was originally built in 1935 and reconstructed in 1992.