New York State Route 454
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 454 (NY 454), also known as the Suffolk County Veterans' Memorial Highway, is a 13.67 miles (22 km) east–west divided highway in western and central Suffolk County
on Long Island
in New York. It spans from NY 25
(Jericho Turnpike) in Commack
to NY 27
(Sunrise Highway) north of Patchogue
. The route provides access to the Long Island MacArthur Airport
, as well as New York State and Suffolk County government offices, and at one time the Long Island Arena
. NY 454 serves as the northern terminus for the Northern State Parkway
in Hauppague, where a concurrency with NY 347
begins.
The origins of NY 454 date back to the late 1940s when a new freeway was constructed from Commack to Patchogue for $1.4 million (1949 USD). This new freeway was designated as a memorial for Suffolk County War Veterans. The route was designed and constructed by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works under watch and aid from the New York State Department of Public Works
and the United States government. Upon completion in January 1950, the route was designated as County Route 76 (CR 76) west of Town Line Road and CR 78 southeast of Town Line Road, until 1968 when it was designated CR 78 for its entire length. In 1972, the state took over control of the new highway and designated it NY 454. Recently, there have been plans to expand the highway and the concurrency
with Route 347 with new travel lanes and a new interchange being built between the two highways.
(Jericho Turnpike) in Commack
. The route heads southeastward as the four-lane Veterans Memorial Highway, passing through a large commercial district built up around NY 454's interchange with the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
(exit SM2). From there, Route 454 continues eastward through a residential district for several miles and passes to the south of Whitman Hollow Park. The arterial continues southeastward through local residential areas with four lanes before meeting NY 347
and the Northern State Parkway
at an interchange in Hauppauge
. The junction serves as the western terminus of Route 347 and the eastern terminus of the Northern Parkway. Route 347 and Route 454 become concurrent
, crossing through Hauppauge and residential properties for the next two miles (3.2 km), intersecting with local roads. After bending around Forestwood Park, Routes 454 and 347 follow the town line and pass the Stoubrough Golf Course, where Route 347 forks to the northeast.
From there, Route 454 turns to the southeast, intersecting with NY 111
(Hauppauge Road) and narrowing to two lanes. After turning further to the south, the highway intersects with Suffolk County Route 67, the former alignment of the Long Island Motor Parkway. Here, Route 454 returns to four lanes and meets the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) and its frontage roads. The route enters the local community of Islandia and enters a large commercial district, where the route intersects with County Route 100 (Old Nichols Road). After crossing the Long Island Railroad, Route 454 enters Connetquot River State Park, bends to the east and traverses the park. Crossing over the Connetquot River
, the arterial crosses a hiking trail and soon leaves the park.
Route 454 continues as a four-lane arterial through a large commercial district, intersecting with County Route 93
(Lakeland Avenue). There, the highway crosses Long Island MacArthur Airport
and bends to the east through another large commercial district remaining unchanged for several miles. The route turns to the southeast at Coates Avenue as a four-lane arterial for the last two miles (3.2 km) of Route 454. About three miles (4.8 km) from Lakeland Avenue, Route 454 interchanges with exit 51 on the Sunrise Highway (NY 27
) in Patchogue
, where the designation ends and the right-of-way merges into Route 27.
to a new general-use hospital. On April 30, 1949, the sides came to agreement to name the new highway for the war veterans, and two agencies were hired to come up with a name. The design for the freeway between Commack and Patchogue included a 145 feet (44.2 m) right-of-way, and the road was constructed under the supervision of the New York State Department of Public Works
.
Construction continued throughout 1949, with the new Veterans Memorial Highway opening on January 25, 1950. The new 13.62 miles (21.92 km) highway was designated as County Route 76 for 4.18 miles (6.73 km) through Smithtown
and County Route 78 for the remaining 9.44 miles (15.19 km) in the town of Islip
. The new freeway's wide right-of-way was built with room for additional lanes if the situation became necessary. Although the state of New York and the federal government both helped aid the project, the control of the new highway was turned over to the Suffolk County Superintendent of Highways. In March 1968, CR 76 was truncated to begin at NY 347
while CR 78 was extended northwestward over CR 76's former routing to NY 25
in Commack
.
In 1970, the Nassau–Suffolk Regional Planning Board brought up plans to expand County Route 78 to a six-lane expressway with new service roads to aid. A similar thing was to occur to the nearby four-laned NY 347 through Islip. To aid this, ownership and maintenance of CR 78 was transferred to the New York State Department of Transportation
on March 29, 1972, receiving the designation of NY 454. The state immediately expanded Route 454 to six lanes, with three in each direction from Patchogue to the terminus of NY 347. In 1977, the state designated the portion of the highway in Hauppague as both Route 454 and Route 347 after it became clear that the Hauppauge Spur of the Long Island Expressway would not be constructed. The plans to expand Route 454 and Route 347 into full-blown freeways were discarded by the 1980s.
During the 1990s, the Department of Transportation looked into the expansion of Route 347 and Route 454. The studies suggested that the state would add one additional traffic lane in each direction, giving most of the highway six lanes with eight travel lanes along the concurrency in Hauppauge. The new lanes would also be capable of holding rapid-commute vehicles for the Long Island Rapid Commute. The interchange where Routes 347 and 454 fork in Hauppague is slated to go from an at-grade fork to a grade-separated
interchange. The project, which will cost $359 million (2009 USD) is scheduled to be completed between 2012 and 2015.
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...
on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
in New York. It spans from NY 25
New York State Route 25
New York State Route 25 is an east–west state highway in downstate New York in the United States. The route extends for just over from east midtown Manhattan in New York City to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal at Orient Point on the end of Long Island's North Fork...
(Jericho Turnpike) in Commack
Commack, New York
Commack is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island...
to NY 27
New York State Route 27
New York State Route 27 is an east–west long state highway extending from Interstate 278 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to Montauk Point State Park on Long Island, New York, United States...
(Sunrise Highway) north of Patchogue
Patchogue, New York
-Notable citizens:* Franc D'Ambrosio, Broadway Actor, best known for being the longest running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Graduated Pat-Med HS 1981* Michael Fagan, professional bowler...
. The route provides access to the Long Island MacArthur Airport
Long Island MacArthur Airport
Long Island MacArthur Airport, formerly known as Islip Airport is a public airport located on Long Island, in Ronkonkoma, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is seven miles northeast of the central business district of Islip hamlet...
, as well as New York State and Suffolk County government offices, and at one time the Long Island Arena
Long Island Arena
Long Island Arena was a 4,000-seat indoor arena in Commack, New York from 1959 until 1996. The Long Island Ducks of the Eastern Hockey League, a popular team in the small community, called the Arena home from 1959 until the league folded in 1973, one year after the New York Islanders came into...
. NY 454 serves as the northern terminus for the Northern State Parkway
Northern State Parkway
The Northern State Parkway is a long limited-access state parkway on Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus is at the Queens-Nassau County line, where the parkway continues westward into New York City as the Grand Central Parkway...
in Hauppague, where a concurrency with NY 347
New York State Route 347
New York State Route 347 is an east–west state highway located in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It connects the Northern State Parkway in Hauppauge to NY 25A in Mount Sinai. The route serves as a southern bypass of Smithtown and as a direct link between Nesconset and...
begins.
The origins of NY 454 date back to the late 1940s when a new freeway was constructed from Commack to Patchogue for $1.4 million (1949 USD). This new freeway was designated as a memorial for Suffolk County War Veterans. The route was designed and constructed by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works under watch and aid from the New York State Department of Public Works
New York State Department of Public Works
The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the New York State Constitution. It abolished the canal commissioners and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions...
and the United States government. Upon completion in January 1950, the route was designated as County Route 76 (CR 76) west of Town Line Road and CR 78 southeast of Town Line Road, until 1968 when it was designated CR 78 for its entire length. In 1972, the state took over control of the new highway and designated it NY 454. Recently, there have been plans to expand the highway and the concurrency
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with Route 347 with new travel lanes and a new interchange being built between the two highways.
Route description
NY 454 begins at a fork along NY 25New York State Route 25
New York State Route 25 is an east–west state highway in downstate New York in the United States. The route extends for just over from east midtown Manhattan in New York City to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal at Orient Point on the end of Long Island's North Fork...
(Jericho Turnpike) in Commack
Commack, New York
Commack is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island...
. The route heads southeastward as the four-lane Veterans Memorial Highway, passing through a large commercial district built up around NY 454's interchange with the Sunken Meadow State Parkway
Sunken Meadow State Parkway
The Sunken Meadow State Parkway is a long north–south parkway on Long Island in New York. All six miles of the parkway are located in the Suffolk County town of Smithtown. The southern terminus of the route is at the Northern State Parkway, where it continues southward as the Sagtikos...
(exit SM2). From there, Route 454 continues eastward through a residential district for several miles and passes to the south of Whitman Hollow Park. The arterial continues southeastward through local residential areas with four lanes before meeting NY 347
New York State Route 347
New York State Route 347 is an east–west state highway located in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It connects the Northern State Parkway in Hauppauge to NY 25A in Mount Sinai. The route serves as a southern bypass of Smithtown and as a direct link between Nesconset and...
and the Northern State Parkway
Northern State Parkway
The Northern State Parkway is a long limited-access state parkway on Long Island in the U.S. state of New York. The western terminus is at the Queens-Nassau County line, where the parkway continues westward into New York City as the Grand Central Parkway...
at an interchange in Hauppauge
Hauppauge, New York
Hauppauge is a hamlet and CDP in the Town of Islip and the Town of Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 20,100 at the time of the 2000 census....
. The junction serves as the western terminus of Route 347 and the eastern terminus of the Northern Parkway. Route 347 and Route 454 become concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
, crossing through Hauppauge and residential properties for the next two miles (3.2 km), intersecting with local roads. After bending around Forestwood Park, Routes 454 and 347 follow the town line and pass the Stoubrough Golf Course, where Route 347 forks to the northeast.
From there, Route 454 turns to the southeast, intersecting with NY 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...
(Hauppauge Road) and narrowing to two lanes. After turning further to the south, the highway intersects with Suffolk County Route 67, the former alignment of the Long Island Motor Parkway. Here, Route 454 returns to four lanes and meets the Long Island Expressway (Interstate 495) and its frontage roads. The route enters the local community of Islandia and enters a large commercial district, where the route intersects with County Route 100 (Old Nichols Road). After crossing the Long Island Railroad, Route 454 enters Connetquot River State Park, bends to the east and traverses the park. Crossing over the Connetquot River
Connetquot River
The Connetquot River is a long river in Islip. It is one of the four biggest rivers on Long Island and is recognized the state as a Wild, Scenic and Recreational River....
, the arterial crosses a hiking trail and soon leaves the park.
Route 454 continues as a four-lane arterial through a large commercial district, intersecting with County Route 93
County Route 93 (Suffolk County, New York)
Suffolk County Route 93 is a major county road entirely within Central Suffolk County, New York, primarily in eastern Town of Islip and partially in southeastern Town of Smithtown. It runs north and south from New York State Route 27 in Bohemia near Sayville to Suffolk County Road 16 in Lake...
(Lakeland Avenue). There, the highway crosses Long Island MacArthur Airport
Long Island MacArthur Airport
Long Island MacArthur Airport, formerly known as Islip Airport is a public airport located on Long Island, in Ronkonkoma, Town of Islip, Suffolk County, New York, United States. It is seven miles northeast of the central business district of Islip hamlet...
and bends to the east through another large commercial district remaining unchanged for several miles. The route turns to the southeast at Coates Avenue as a four-lane arterial for the last two miles (3.2 km) of Route 454. About three miles (4.8 km) from Lakeland Avenue, Route 454 interchanges with exit 51 on the Sunrise Highway (NY 27
New York State Route 27
New York State Route 27 is an east–west long state highway extending from Interstate 278 in the New York City borough of Brooklyn to Montauk Point State Park on Long Island, New York, United States...
) in Patchogue
Patchogue, New York
-Notable citizens:* Franc D'Ambrosio, Broadway Actor, best known for being the longest running Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Graduated Pat-Med HS 1981* Michael Fagan, professional bowler...
, where the designation ends and the right-of-way merges into Route 27.
History
Construction first began in 1948 for a new freeway from Commack to Patchogue by the Suffolk County Department of Public Works. The $1.4 million (1949 USD) project was funded by federal aid and was designated as a new memorial for the war veterans. People had been arguing since 1947 to get a new county-funded war veteran memorial installed in Suffolk, including a number of other suggested projects such as trees at a park in YaphankYaphank, New York
Yaphank is a census-designated place in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,025 at the 2000 census.Yaphank is a community in the south part of the Town of Brookhaven...
to a new general-use hospital. On April 30, 1949, the sides came to agreement to name the new highway for the war veterans, and two agencies were hired to come up with a name. The design for the freeway between Commack and Patchogue included a 145 feet (44.2 m) right-of-way, and the road was constructed under the supervision of the New York State Department of Public Works
New York State Department of Public Works
The office of Superintendent of Public Works was created by an 1876 amendment to the New York State Constitution. It abolished the canal commissioners and established that the Department of Public Works execute all laws relating to canal maintenance and navigation except for those functions...
.
Construction continued throughout 1949, with the new Veterans Memorial Highway opening on January 25, 1950. The new 13.62 miles (21.92 km) highway was designated as County Route 76 for 4.18 miles (6.73 km) through Smithtown
Smithtown, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 115,715 people, 38,487 households, and 31,482 families residing in the town. The population density was 2,159.9 people per square mile . There were 39,357 housing units at an average density of 734.6 per square mile...
and County Route 78 for the remaining 9.44 miles (15.19 km) in the town of Islip
Islip (town), New York
The Town of Islip is one of ten towns in Suffolk County, New York . Located on the south shore of Long Island, the town population was 322,612 at the 2000 census. The smaller, unincorporated hamlet of Islip lies within the town.-Demographics:...
. The new freeway's wide right-of-way was built with room for additional lanes if the situation became necessary. Although the state of New York and the federal government both helped aid the project, the control of the new highway was turned over to the Suffolk County Superintendent of Highways. In March 1968, CR 76 was truncated to begin at NY 347
New York State Route 347
New York State Route 347 is an east–west state highway located in Suffolk County, New York, in the United States. It connects the Northern State Parkway in Hauppauge to NY 25A in Mount Sinai. The route serves as a southern bypass of Smithtown and as a direct link between Nesconset and...
while CR 78 was extended northwestward over CR 76's former routing to NY 25
New York State Route 25
New York State Route 25 is an east–west state highway in downstate New York in the United States. The route extends for just over from east midtown Manhattan in New York City to the Cross Sound Ferry terminal at Orient Point on the end of Long Island's North Fork...
in Commack
Commack, New York
Commack is a census-designated place that roughly corresponds to the hamlet by the same name in the towns of Huntington and Smithtown in Suffolk County, New York, United States on Long Island...
.
In 1970, the Nassau–Suffolk Regional Planning Board brought up plans to expand County Route 78 to a six-lane expressway with new service roads to aid. A similar thing was to occur to the nearby four-laned NY 347 through Islip. To aid this, ownership and maintenance of CR 78 was transferred to 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...
on March 29, 1972, receiving the designation of NY 454. The state immediately expanded Route 454 to six lanes, with three in each direction from Patchogue to the terminus of NY 347. In 1977, the state designated the portion of the highway in Hauppague as both Route 454 and Route 347 after it became clear that the Hauppauge Spur of the Long Island Expressway would not be constructed. The plans to expand Route 454 and Route 347 into full-blown freeways were discarded by the 1980s.
During the 1990s, the Department of Transportation looked into the expansion of Route 347 and Route 454. The studies suggested that the state would add one additional traffic lane in each direction, giving most of the highway six lanes with eight travel lanes along the concurrency in Hauppauge. The new lanes would also be capable of holding rapid-commute vehicles for the Long Island Rapid Commute. The interchange where Routes 347 and 454 fork in Hauppague is slated to go from an at-grade fork to a grade-separated
Grade separation
Grade separation is the method of aligning a junction of two or more transport axes at different heights so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other transit routes when they cross each other. The composition of such transport axes does not have to be uniform; it can consist of a...
interchange. The project, which will cost $359 million (2009 USD) is scheduled to be completed between 2012 and 2015.