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County Route 50 (Suffolk County, New York)
Encyclopedia
Suffolk County Route 50 is a county road in Southwestern Suffolk County, New York
. It runs east and west between Babylon
and Great River, New York
. Most of the road is two lanes wide, although there are some areas where it opens up to four lanes, or simply allows center-left-turn lanes.
Of the four main east–west roads that run along the south shore of Long Island in Western Suffolk County, Suffolk CR 50's close proximity to the Montauk Branch
of the Long Island Rail Road
makes it a vital commuter route for residents of this section of the county.
, north of the Montauk Branch
of the Long Island Rail Road
as Simon Street, but this name doesn't carry the designation very long. At the intersection of Cedar and Cooper Streets, CR 50 makes a sharp right turn along Cooper Street to cross under the tracks and immediately make a left onto John Street along the south side of the Montauk Branch for a slightly longer distance until reaching the quarter cloverleaf interchange with the Babylon-Northport Expressway
on the Babylon Village-West Islip border, where it suddenly takes on the name Union Boulevard, the street that defines County Road 50. Union Boulevard continues to carry CR 50 along the south side of the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road between Babylon and Great River.
East of the intersection of Suffolk CR 82(Higbie Lane), Suffolk CR 50 runs beneath a pedestrian-railroad bridge, that spans between a shopping center and the intersection of Orinoco Drive and Patricia Avenue across the Montauk Branch, and another limited-access highway known as the Robert Moses Causeway
in West Islip. Unlike the BNE, no access to this road is provided. The bridge that carries the Robert Moses Causeway over Union Boulevard, also carries it over the LIRR railroad tracks. After passing through northern sections of West Bay Shore, New York
and the exclusive Village of Brightwaters
, Suffolk CR 50 approaches southbound only Clinton Avenue and northbound only Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore, New York
. Continuing its eastbound run on the south side of Bay Shore (LIRR station)
then intersecting with Suffolk CR 57(Third Avenue), the road would serve as the unofficial northern border of downtown Bay Shore if it were not for the LIRR's Montauk Branch.
The last major intersection within Bay Shore is Brentwood Road, although Saxon Avenue also leads through NY 27. While Union Boulevard runs south of the railroad tracks, another street called Moffit Boulevard runs parallel to the north side of the tracks, which runs between Brentwood Road and Carleton Avenue. As the road enters the heart of Islip it intersects Nassau Avenue and more importantly New York State Route 111
, two streets that serve Islip (LIRR station)
. Shortly after passing over the north end of Knapp Lake and Champlin Creek
, the road curves somewhat further southeast as it intersects with Carleton Avenue
in East Islip, which was originally a segment of NY 111 until 1966.
Union Boulevard runs beneath a third limited-access road between East Islip and Great River
. This time it is the Heckscher State Parkway
. No access to this parkway is provided, however exit 45W on the parkway leads to Harwood Road, which takes commuters to both New York State Route 27A
and Suffolk CR 50. From the parkway bridge, the road enters both Suffolk County and New York State protected areas then intersects with Connetquot Avenue south of Great River (LIRR station)
. The road finally terminates at an at-grade interchange with New York State Route 27A
and the entrance to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum.
between Commack and Patchogue, it was intended to be a feeder route running from the Nassau
-Suffolk border to eastern Islip Township. The suffixes attached to these extensions were more than likely to have been eliminated once the projects were complete. Proposals were to include the following:
Suffolk County, New York
Suffolk County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York on the eastern portion of Long Island. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,493,350. It was named for the county of Suffolk in England, from which its earliest settlers came...
. It runs east and west between Babylon
Babylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
and Great River, New York
Great River, New York
Great River is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The name derives from "Connetquot", an Algonquian word for "great river". It was formerly known as Youngsport and was once home to many aristocratic families...
. Most of the road is two lanes wide, although there are some areas where it opens up to four lanes, or simply allows center-left-turn lanes.
Of the four main east–west roads that run along the south shore of Long Island in Western Suffolk County, Suffolk CR 50's close proximity to the Montauk Branch
Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
of the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
makes it a vital commuter route for residents of this section of the county.
Route description
Suffolk CR 50 begins at the intersection of Deer Park Avenue in the Village of BabylonBabylon (village), New York
Babylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
, north of the Montauk Branch
Montauk Branch
The Montauk Branch is a rail line owned and operated by the Long Island Rail Road in the U.S. state of New York. The branch runs the length of Long Island, 115 miles from Long Island City on the west to Montauk on the east...
of the Long Island Rail Road
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
as Simon Street, but this name doesn't carry the designation very long. At the intersection of Cedar and Cooper Streets, CR 50 makes a sharp right turn along Cooper Street to cross under the tracks and immediately make a left onto John Street along the south side of the Montauk Branch for a slightly longer distance until reaching the quarter cloverleaf interchange with the Babylon-Northport Expressway
New York State Route 231
New York State Route 231 is a north–south state highway located in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The route extends for from a partial interchange with NY 27A in Babylon to an interchange with the Northern State Parkway in Dix Hills...
on the Babylon Village-West Islip border, where it suddenly takes on the name Union Boulevard, the street that defines County Road 50. Union Boulevard continues to carry CR 50 along the south side of the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road between Babylon and Great River.
East of the intersection of Suffolk CR 82(Higbie Lane), Suffolk CR 50 runs beneath a pedestrian-railroad bridge, that spans between a shopping center and the intersection of Orinoco Drive and Patricia Avenue across the Montauk Branch, and another limited-access highway known as the Robert Moses Causeway
Robert Moses Causeway
The Robert Moses Causeway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The parkway, originally known as the Captree Causeway, connects West Islip on Long Island to the barrier beach islands, such as Captree Island, Jones Beach Island, and the western tip of Fire Island, to the south. It is...
in West Islip. Unlike the BNE, no access to this road is provided. The bridge that carries the Robert Moses Causeway over Union Boulevard, also carries it over the LIRR railroad tracks. After passing through northern sections of West Bay Shore, New York
West Bay Shore, New York
West Bay Shore is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 4,775 at the time of the 2000 census.West Bay Shore is located in the Town of Islip.-History:...
and the exclusive Village of Brightwaters
Brightwaters, New York
Brightwaters is a village in southwest part of the town of Islip, which is in western Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 3,248 at the 2000 census. Brightwaters is a suburb of New York City.-Geography:...
, Suffolk CR 50 approaches southbound only Clinton Avenue and northbound only Fifth Avenue in Bay Shore, New York
Bay Shore, New York
Bay Shore is a hamlet and a census-designated place located in the Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, USA. It is situated on the south shore of Long Island, adjoining the Great South Bay. Bay Shore celebrated its 300th anniversary in 2008. The population of the CDP was 23,852 at the time of...
. Continuing its eastbound run on the south side of Bay Shore (LIRR station)
Bay Shore (LIRR station)
Bay Shore is a major railroad station on the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road , on Park Avenue and Oak Street north of Suffolk CR 50 and west of Fourth Avenue, in Bay Shore, New York.-History:...
then intersecting with Suffolk CR 57(Third Avenue), the road would serve as the unofficial northern border of downtown Bay Shore if it were not for the LIRR's Montauk Branch.
The last major intersection within Bay Shore is Brentwood Road, although Saxon Avenue also leads through NY 27. While Union Boulevard runs south of the railroad tracks, another street called Moffit Boulevard runs parallel to the north side of the tracks, which runs between Brentwood Road and Carleton Avenue. As the road enters the heart of Islip it intersects Nassau Avenue and more importantly New York State Route 111
New York State Route 111
New York State Route 111 is a state highway located in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It runs north and south through the towns of Islip and Smithtown between NY 27A in the town seat of Islip and the east end of the NY 25 and NY 25A concurrency in Smithtown's...
, two streets that serve Islip (LIRR station)
Islip (LIRR station)
Islip Station is a station on the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, off NY 111 and Nassau Avenue, north of Suffolk CR 50 , and south of Moffitt Boulevard in Islip, New York, but the official description of its location isn't as precise...
. Shortly after passing over the north end of Knapp Lake and Champlin Creek
Champlin Creek
Champlin Creek is on Long Island, located between the hamlets of Islip and East Islip, flowing southward into the Great South Bay between the Seatuck National Wildlife Refuge and The Moorings...
, the road curves somewhat further southeast as it intersects with Carleton Avenue
County Route 17 (Suffolk County, New York)
Suffolk County Road 17 is a county road located in western Suffolk County, New York. The route runs north–south from New York State Route 27A in East Islip to New York State Route 111 near Hauppauge, just south of exit 56 on Interstate 495...
in East Islip, which was originally a segment of NY 111 until 1966.
Union Boulevard runs beneath a third limited-access road between East Islip and Great River
Great River, New York
Great River is a hamlet and census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The name derives from "Connetquot", an Algonquian word for "great river". It was formerly known as Youngsport and was once home to many aristocratic families...
. This time it is the Heckscher State Parkway
Heckscher State Parkway
The Heckscher State Parkway is an long parkway in Suffolk County, New York. The western terminus is at the Sagtikos State Parkway in West Islip, where it continues west as the Southern State Parkway. The eastern terminus is at the entrance to Heckscher State Park in Great River...
. No access to this parkway is provided, however exit 45W on the parkway leads to Harwood Road, which takes commuters to both New York State Route 27A
New York State Route 27A
New York State Route 27A is a state highway extending from Massapequa in Nassau County to Oakdale in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York in the United States...
and Suffolk CR 50. From the parkway bridge, the road enters both Suffolk County and New York State protected areas then intersects with Connetquot Avenue south of Great River (LIRR station)
Great River (LIRR station)
Great River is a railroad station on the Montauk Branch of the Long Island Rail Road, at Connetquot Avenue and Hawthorne Avenue in Great River, New York.-History:...
. The road finally terminates at an at-grade interchange with New York State Route 27A
New York State Route 27A
New York State Route 27A is a state highway extending from Massapequa in Nassau County to Oakdale in Suffolk County on Long Island, New York in the United States...
and the entrance to the Bayard Cutting Arboretum.
Formerly proposed extensions
Suffolk County had much more ambitious plans for CR 50 until the 1980s. While the intention was never to transform the road into a major divided highway, such as Veteran's Memorial HighwayNew York State Route 454
New York State Route 454 , also known as the Suffolk County Veterans' Memorial Highway, is a east–west divided highway in western and central Suffolk County on Long Island in New York. It spans from NY 25 in Commack to NY 27 north of Patchogue...
between Commack and Patchogue, it was intended to be a feeder route running from the Nassau
Nassau County, New York
Nassau County is a suburban county on Long Island, east of New York City in the U.S. state of New York, within the New York Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 1,339,532...
-Suffolk border to eastern Islip Township. The suffixes attached to these extensions were more than likely to have been eliminated once the projects were complete. Proposals were to include the following:
Suffolk CR 50A: Reserved for unbuilt Union Boulevard Extension between OakdaleOakdale, New YorkOakdale is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 8,075 at the 2000 census. Oakdale is in the Town of Islip.- History :...
and SayvilleSayville, New YorkSayville is a hamlet and CDP in Suffolk County, New York, . Located on the south shore of Long Island in the Town of Islip, the population of the CDP was 16,735 at the time of the 2000 census.-History:...
. This 1964 proposal was to run mostly along the north side of the Montauk Branch of the LIRR, terminating east of the low railroad bridge over Montauk HighwayMontauk HighwayMontauk Highway is one of the original through highways of Long Island, New York, extending from Jamaica, in the New York City borough of Queens to Montauk Point in Suffolk County, a distance of approximately 100 miles ....
in Sayville.
Suffolk CR 50B: DELETED: Now Suffolk CR 12(Oak Street, Railroad Avenue, and Trolley Line Road) from AmityvilleAmityville, New YorkAmityville is a village in the town of Babylon in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. The population was 9,441 at the 2000 census.-History:...
at the Nassau-Suffolk County Line to BabylonBabylon (village), New YorkBabylon is a village in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 12,615 at the 2000 census.Its official name is The Incorporated Village of Babylon...
at either Deer Park Avenue or Cooper Street and Union Boulevard.
Suffolk CR 50C: Park Avenue between New York State Route 109New York State Route 109New York State Route 109 , also known as the Babylon–Farmingdale Turnpike, is a four-lane state highway on Long Island in New York in the United States. It runs from Farmingdale in the Nassau County town of Oyster Bay to the village of Babylon in Suffolk County...
and Deer Park Avenue within Babylon. This proposal was phased out during the mid-1980s, although Suffolk County Department of Public Works still lists this street as being part of County Road 50.