New York State Route 342
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 342 (NY 342) is a short east–west state highway
in Jefferson County, New York
, United States
. The western terminus of NY 342 is at an intersection with NY 12
near the hamlet of Scoville Corners in the town of Pamelia
. The eastern terminus is at a junction with NY 3
in the town of Le Ray
, west of the village of Black River
. Along the way, NY 342 connects to Interstate 81 (I-81) in Pamelia and intersects U.S. Route 11 (US 11) outside of the Le Ray hamlet of Calcium
.
What is now NY 342 was originally built during the 1950s as a federal-aid highway known as the "Watertown Bypass". It became a state highway in 1960, at which time it was designated as New York State Route 181. The designation was short-lived as NY 181 was renumbered to NY 342 ca. 1963. The portion of NY 342 between US 11 and NY 3 was part of NY 26
from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s.
in Pamelia
, a town to the north of the city of Watertown
. It heads northeastward through open, mostly undeveloped fields for 1 miles (1.6 km) to an interchange with I-81. East of I-81, the development along NY 342 increases as the route enters Pamelia Center, a hamlet centered around NY 342's intersection with NY 37
. NY 342 continues on, passing through the eastern portion of the community and serving a local country club before entering another rural area dominated by open fields.
Upon intersecting Nellis Road, NY 342 turns to follow a linear, southeasterly routing into the town of Le Ray
. The rural surroundings remain until the hamlet of Calcium
, where NY 342 meets US 11 north of the community's center in a lightly populated residential area just southwest of the Fort Drum Military Reservation. The route continues on, running along the southwestern edge of Fort Drum to a junction with NY 283
. At this point, NY 342 curves to the south, bypassing the village of Black River
to the west as it heads through another undeveloped area consisting of little more than open fields. The route ends roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south of NY 283 at an intersection with NY 3
southwest of the village.
in Pamelia
and US 11 in Le Ray
was originally built in stages between 1951 and 1955 as a federal-aid highway named the "Watertown Bypass". The remainder of the route (via Le Ray and South Main Streets in Black River
) was built around this time. NY 26
was realigned between 1956 and 1958 to use the portion of the bypass between US 11 and NY 3
. The change was part of a larger realignment of NY 26 between Carthage
and Antwerp
.
In 1960, the New York State Department of Transportation
assumed ownership and maintenance of the Watertown Bypass. The entirety of the new state highway, including the portion already part of NY 26, was initially designated as NY 181. It was renumbered to NY 342 ca. 1963, eliminating potential confusion between NY 181 and the nearby I-81 (abbreviated I-81). NY 342 was also rerouted to bypass Black River to the west around this time. The overlap with NY 26 was eliminated in the mid-1970s when NY 26 was truncated to Carthage
.
and US 11. Work on the project, development of which began in late 2002 and early 2003, is currently slated to take place in 2015. The cost of the planned project is projected to be $6.8 million as of 2009.
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 Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County, New York
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2010 census, the population was 116,229. It is named after Thomas Jefferson, third President of the United States of America, and president at the time the county was created in 1805...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The western terminus of NY 342 is at an intersection with NY 12
New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
near the hamlet of Scoville Corners in the town of Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
. The eastern terminus is at a junction with NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
in the town of Le Ray
Le Ray, New York
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 21,782 at the 2010 census. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, from France.The Town of Le Ray is in the central part of the county and is east of Watertown....
, west of the village of Black River
Black River, New York
Black River is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census.The Village of Black River is on the border of the Town of Le Ray and the Town of Rutland...
. Along the way, NY 342 connects to Interstate 81 (I-81) in Pamelia and intersects U.S. Route 11 (US 11) outside of the Le Ray hamlet of Calcium
Calcium, New York
Calcium is a hamlet in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,516 as of July 2007.Calcium is in the Town of Le Ray and was formerly called Sanford's Corner....
.
What is now NY 342 was originally built during the 1950s as a federal-aid highway known as the "Watertown Bypass". It became a state highway in 1960, at which time it was designated as New York State Route 181. The designation was short-lived as NY 181 was renumbered to NY 342 ca. 1963. The portion of NY 342 between US 11 and NY 3 was part of NY 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
from the late 1950s to the mid-1970s.
Route description
In the west, NY 342 begins at an intersection with NY 12New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
in Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
, a town to the north of the city of Watertown
Watertown (city), New York
Watertown is a city in the state of New York and the county seat of Jefferson County. It is situated approximately south of the Thousand Islands. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 27,023, an increase of 1.2% since 2000. The U.S...
. It heads northeastward through open, mostly undeveloped fields for 1 miles (1.6 km) to an interchange with I-81. East of I-81, the development along NY 342 increases as the route enters Pamelia Center, a hamlet centered around NY 342's intersection with NY 37
New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
. NY 342 continues on, passing through the eastern portion of the community and serving a local country club before entering another rural area dominated by open fields.
Upon intersecting Nellis Road, NY 342 turns to follow a linear, southeasterly routing into the town of Le Ray
Le Ray, New York
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 21,782 at the 2010 census. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, from France.The Town of Le Ray is in the central part of the county and is east of Watertown....
. The rural surroundings remain until the hamlet of Calcium
Calcium, New York
Calcium is a hamlet in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,516 as of July 2007.Calcium is in the Town of Le Ray and was formerly called Sanford's Corner....
, where NY 342 meets US 11 north of the community's center in a lightly populated residential area just southwest of the Fort Drum Military Reservation. The route continues on, running along the southwestern edge of Fort Drum to a junction with NY 283
New York State Route 283
New York State Route 283 is a east–west state highway in Jefferson County, New York, in the United States. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 , NY 3, and NY 12 in downtown Watertown. Its eastern terminus is at a junction with...
. At this point, NY 342 curves to the south, bypassing the village of Black River
Black River, New York
Black River is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census.The Village of Black River is on the border of the Town of Le Ray and the Town of Rutland...
to the west as it heads through another undeveloped area consisting of little more than open fields. The route ends roughly 1.5 miles (2.4 km) to the south of NY 283 at an intersection with NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
southwest of the village.
History
The portion of modern NY 342 between NY 12New York State Route 12
New York State Route 12 is a state highway extending for through central and northern New York in the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 11 in the town of Chenango in the Southern Tier. The northern terminus is at NY 37 near the village of...
in Pamelia
Pamelia, New York
Pamelia is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 3,160 at the 2010 census. The town is named after Pamelia Williams, the wife of a landowner and developer....
and US 11 in Le Ray
Le Ray, New York
Le Ray is a town in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 21,782 at the 2010 census. The town is named for Jacques-Donatien Le Ray, from France.The Town of Le Ray is in the central part of the county and is east of Watertown....
was originally built in stages between 1951 and 1955 as a federal-aid highway named the "Watertown Bypass". The remainder of the route (via Le Ray and South Main Streets in Black River
Black River, New York
Black River is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 1,285 at the 2000 census.The Village of Black River is on the border of the Town of Le Ray and the Town of Rutland...
) was built around this time. NY 26
New York State Route 26
New York State Route 26 is a north–south state highway that runs for through Central New York in the United States. Its southern terminus is located at the Pennsylvania state line south of the town of Vestal in Broome County, where it becomes Pennsylvania Route 267...
was realigned between 1956 and 1958 to use the portion of the bypass between US 11 and NY 3
New York State Route 3
New York State Route 3 is a major east–west state highway in New York, United States, that connects central New York to the North Country region near the Canadian border via Adirondack Park. The route extends for between its western terminus at an intersection with NY 104A in the Cayuga...
. The change was part of a larger realignment of NY 26 between Carthage
Carthage, New York
Carthage is a village located in the Town of Wilna in Jefferson County, New York. The population was 3,721 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the historic Carthage in North Africa....
and Antwerp
Antwerp (village), New York
Antwerp is a village in Jefferson County, New York, United States. The population was 716 at the 2000 census.The Village of Antwerp is in center of the Town of Antwerp and is northwest of Watertown.- History :...
.
In 1960, the New York State Department of Transportation
New York State Department of Transportation
The New York State Department of Transportation is responsible for the development and operation of highways, railroads, mass transit systems, ports, waterways and aviation facilities in the U.S...
assumed ownership and maintenance of the Watertown Bypass. The entirety of the new state highway, including the portion already part of NY 26, was initially designated as NY 181. It was renumbered to NY 342 ca. 1963, eliminating potential confusion between NY 181 and the nearby I-81 (abbreviated I-81). NY 342 was also rerouted to bypass Black River to the west around this time. The overlap with NY 26 was eliminated in the mid-1970s when NY 26 was truncated to Carthage
Carthage, New York
Carthage is a village located in the Town of Wilna in Jefferson County, New York. The population was 3,721 at the 2000 census. The village is named after the historic Carthage in North Africa....
.
Future
Plans are in place to reconstruct the 3.25 miles (5.23 km) portion of NY 342 between NY 37New York State Route 37
New York State Route 37 is a state highway in the North Country of New York in the United States, extending for on a west–east axis. The western terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 11 in Watertown, Jefferson County...
and US 11. Work on the project, development of which began in late 2002 and early 2003, is currently slated to take place in 2015. The cost of the planned project is projected to be $6.8 million as of 2009.