Cross-Westchester Expressway

Infobox road
state=NY
type=I
route=287
highway_name=Cross Westchester Expressway
length_mi= 11.33
length_round=2
length_ref=
established= 1960
direction_a=West
starting_terminus=Jct|state=NY|I|87|I|287 (Thruway) in Greenburgh
junction=
direction_b=East
ending_terminus=Jct|state=NY|I|95 in RyeThe Cross Westchester Expressway is the name given to the part of Interstate 287 which runs from the Interstate 87/287 interchange ( [http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Elmsford,+NY&ie=UTF8&z=16&ll=41.057058,-73.835335&spn=0.008592,0.021501&om=1 Map] ) in the town of Greenburgh to I-287's eastern terminus at Interstate 95 near the Rye-Port Chester boundary. It is operated and maintained by the New York State Thruway Authority.

History

An east-west link across Westchester County had been on the agenda for county planners since the late 1920s. When the already-in-progress solution for this problem, the Central Westchester Parkway, was still only partially constructed by mid-century, it was realized that a commercial vehicle-friendly route should be considered.

When the Tappan Zee Bridge was proposed around 1950, the Cross Westchester Expressway was becoming a better idea. The bridge would carry the expressway over the river to allow motorists to take advantage of north-south artierials on either side.

Construction of the freeway began in 1956, and was given the NY-119 designation. The design of the highway met Interstate highway standards after opening, and was supposed to have the I-187 designation, however, it was officially designated as Interstate 487. It wasn't until 1961 that it was re-designated I-287. At a cost of $50 million, the Cross Westchester Expressway was opened December, 1960.

In the 1960s Robert Moses proposed the construction of a bridge from the highway's terminus in Rye across Long Island Sound to Oyster Bay, where it would link up with Long Island's New York State Route 135 expressway. Due to environmental opposition, in 1973 Governor Nelson Rockefeller abandoned this proposed link to the regional transportation system.

Route description

Heading east from Interstate 87, I-287 meets state routes 9A and 119, the Sprain Brook Parkway, Interstate 684, then the Hutchinson River Parkway. After heading under US-1, the Cross Westchester Expressway and I-287 end at the New England Thruway (I-95).

Exit list

The entire route is in Westchester County.

External links

* [http://www.nycroads.com/roads/cross-westchester/ Cross Westchester Expressway at nycroads]