Old Route 30

Old Route 30 is a portion of NYS Route 30 that has been intentionally abandoned. Today, this portion of road serves as hiking and biking trail.

History

New York State Route 30 is a state highway in the central part of New York, USA. The highway runs from the Southern Tier to the border of Canada. The route serves to connect the Catskill Park to the Adirondack Park, and within that park is known as the Adirondack Trail. [http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/nycodes/c50/a14.html ARTICLE XII, Section 342-b of the New York State Consolidated Laws] ]

Originally, a portion of Route 30 did not travel through a part of the Schoharie Valley and instead went up into the local hills. Altogether, Old Route 30 encompasses about a mile and a half.

Abandonment

During the 1950s, the path of Route 30 was changed from the hills into the Schoharie Valley. The proposed changes would have Route 30 run through the Valley. The proposed change would shift the Route from Fultonham to Breakabeen.

The change was approved and the shift has kept Route 30 where is has been since then. Old Route 30 is still visible from the new portion of Route 30.

Old Route 30 was closed to the public and guardrails were placed to stop motor traffic. However, biking and walking was still allowed. The southern entrance to the Route is at Max V. Shaul State Park near Breakabeen.

Today

The quality of the blacktop of Old Route 30 has continued to deteriorate. There are significant potholes and overhanging trees, but the path is still passable.

There is a hiking path that leads up from Old Route 30. There is also one household on the Route. This is an abandoned trailer that for years was inhabited by a veteran of the First World War. This was despite the fact that there was no road or electricity access.

References