New York State Route 171
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 171 (NY 171) is an east–west state highway
in Herkimer County, New York
, in the United States. The route connects the hamlet of Gulph in the town of Frankfort
to the village of Frankfort
by way of the Frankfort Gorge. Its western terminus is at the junction of County Route 145 (CR 145) and CR 185 southeast of Gulph. The eastern terminus is 5.69 miles (9.16 km) to the east at an intersection with Main Street in Frankfort village. NY 171 is a narrow, two-lane highway for its entire length.
NY 171 is the only signed state highway in New York that does not intersect another signed state route. This was not always the case, however: when it was originally assigned in the 1930s, Main Street in Frankfort was part of NY 5S
. A new freeway alignment for NY 5S was constructed between Utica
and Ilion
in the late 1960s, isolating NY 171 from the remainder of the state highway system. Frankfort's interchange with NY 5S is at Cemetery Street, 0.75 miles (1.21 km) to the west.
. The forest surrounds NY 171 for a substantial distance, separating it from more developed areas of the town. The highway eventually makes a turn to the northeast, beginning a winding, curve-filled stretch that leads the route through the Frankfort Gorge and ultimately to the village of Frankfort
. As it heads through the valley, NY 171 intersects with CR 13, known locally as Furnace Road. CR 13 and NY 171 parallel for a short distance as CR 13 climbs the north face of the gorge before turning northward at its top.
The route continues on, passing under a series of power lines and loosely paralleling the more northerly CR 96 (Higby Road) to the outskirts of the village of Frankfort. Here, NY 171 intersects with several roads of local importance before crossing over the NY 5S
freeway to enter the village itself. On the eastern side of the highway, NY 171 becomes South Litchfield Street and passes through more developed, mostly residential areas. It continues to the village's central business district, where state maintenance of the route ends at a junction with Canal Street. Despite this fact, the route continues for one more block as a village-maintained highway to an intersection with Main Street.
, which the route connected to on its eastern end, was part of NY 5S
. In the late 1960s, a limited-access highway was constructed between Utica
and Ilion
alongside NY 5S. The new highway became part of a rerouted NY 5S in the early 1970s. As a result, NY 171, which does not interchange with the highway, no longer connects to any other signed state routes. NY 171 is the only signed state highway in New York that is completely isolated from the remainder of the state highway system.
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 Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County, New York
Herkimer County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. It was created in 1791 north of the Mohawk River out of part of Montgomery County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 64,519. It is named after General Nicholas Herkimer, who died from battle wounds in 1777 after taking part...
, in the United States. The route connects the hamlet of Gulph in the town of Frankfort
Frankfort (town), New York
Frankfort is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 7,478 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of its earliest settlers, Lawrence Frank. The town of Frankfort includes a village also called Frankfort. The town is east of Utica...
to the village of Frankfort
Frankfort (village), New York
Frankfort is a village in Herkimer County, New York, USA. The population was 2,537 at the 2000 census. Like the town, the village is named after early settler, Lawrence Frank....
by way of the Frankfort Gorge. Its western terminus is at the junction of County Route 145 (CR 145) and CR 185 southeast of Gulph. The eastern terminus is 5.69 miles (9.16 km) to the east at an intersection with Main Street in Frankfort village. NY 171 is a narrow, two-lane highway for its entire length.
NY 171 is the only signed state highway in New York that does not intersect another signed state route. This was not always the case, however: when it was originally assigned in the 1930s, Main Street in Frankfort was part of NY 5S
New York State Route 5S
New York State Route 5S is an east–west state highway located in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 5, NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12 in Utica to a smaller interchange with NY 890 in Rotterdam...
. A new freeway alignment for NY 5S was constructed between Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and Ilion
Ilion, New York
Ilion is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Ilion is a name for the ancient city of Troy.The Village of Ilion is at the north town line of the Town of German Flatts...
in the late 1960s, isolating NY 171 from the remainder of the state highway system. Frankfort's interchange with NY 5S is at Cemetery Street, 0.75 miles (1.21 km) to the west.
Route description
NY 171 begins at an intersection with CR 145 (Ball Road) and CR 185 (Gulph Road) southeast of the hamlet of Gulph. The route heads eastward, passing through a dense forest in the town of FrankfortFrankfort (town), New York
Frankfort is a town in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 7,478 at the 2000 census. The town is named after one of its earliest settlers, Lawrence Frank. The town of Frankfort includes a village also called Frankfort. The town is east of Utica...
. The forest surrounds NY 171 for a substantial distance, separating it from more developed areas of the town. The highway eventually makes a turn to the northeast, beginning a winding, curve-filled stretch that leads the route through the Frankfort Gorge and ultimately to the village of Frankfort
Frankfort (village), New York
Frankfort is a village in Herkimer County, New York, USA. The population was 2,537 at the 2000 census. Like the town, the village is named after early settler, Lawrence Frank....
. As it heads through the valley, NY 171 intersects with CR 13, known locally as Furnace Road. CR 13 and NY 171 parallel for a short distance as CR 13 climbs the north face of the gorge before turning northward at its top.
The route continues on, passing under a series of power lines and loosely paralleling the more northerly CR 96 (Higby Road) to the outskirts of the village of Frankfort. Here, NY 171 intersects with several roads of local importance before crossing over the NY 5S
New York State Route 5S
New York State Route 5S is an east–west state highway located in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 5, NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12 in Utica to a smaller interchange with NY 890 in Rotterdam...
freeway to enter the village itself. On the eastern side of the highway, NY 171 becomes South Litchfield Street and passes through more developed, mostly residential areas. It continues to the village's central business district, where state maintenance of the route ends at a junction with Canal Street. Despite this fact, the route continues for one more block as a village-maintained highway to an intersection with Main Street.
History
NY 171 was assigned ca. 1931 to its current alignment through the Frankfort Gorge. At the time, Main Street in FrankfortFrankfort (village), New York
Frankfort is a village in Herkimer County, New York, USA. The population was 2,537 at the 2000 census. Like the town, the village is named after early settler, Lawrence Frank....
, which the route connected to on its eastern end, was part of NY 5S
New York State Route 5S
New York State Route 5S is an east–west state highway located in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the United States. It extends for from an interchange with NY 5, NY 5A, NY 8, and NY 12 in Utica to a smaller interchange with NY 890 in Rotterdam...
. In the late 1960s, a limited-access highway was constructed between Utica
Utica, New York
Utica is a city in and the county seat of Oneida County, New York, United States. The population was 62,235 at the 2010 census, an increase of 2.6% from the 2000 census....
and Ilion
Ilion, New York
Ilion is a village in Herkimer County, New York, United States. The population was 8,610 at the 2000 census. Ilion is a name for the ancient city of Troy.The Village of Ilion is at the north town line of the Town of German Flatts...
alongside NY 5S. The new highway became part of a rerouted NY 5S in the early 1970s. As a result, NY 171, which does not interchange with the highway, no longer connects to any other signed state routes. NY 171 is the only signed state highway in New York that is completely isolated from the remainder of the state highway system.