New York State Route 60
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 60 (NY 60) is a north–south state highway
in Chautauqua County, New York
, United States
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 62 south of the city of Jamestown
in the town of Kiantone
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 5
in the city of Dunkirk
. In between, NY 60 intersects the lengthy County Route 380
twice (in Kiantone and in Gerry
) and meets the Southern Tier Expressway (in Ellicott
) and the New York State Thruway
(in Dunkirk).
and ended at NY 5 (now U.S. Route 20) in Fredonia
. In between, the route passed through Frewsburg, Jamestown, and Cassadaga
. From Laona
to Fredonia, NY 60 was routed on Porter Avenue, Liberty Street, and Water Street. NY 60 was extended north to NY 20A (modern NY 5
) in Dunkirk by way of Temple Street and Central Avenue as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York.
Ca. 1932, U.S. Route 62 was extended into New York
. From the Pennsylvania state line to Frewsburg, US 62 initially overlapped NY 60. The overlap was eliminated in the 1940s when NY 60 was truncated northward to its junction with US 62 in Frewsburg. In the mid-1960s, construction began on a new alignment for US 62 between the Pennsylvania state line and NY 60 west of Frewsburg. The highway opened to traffic as a realignment of US 62 by 1973. As a result, NY 60 was truncated to its junction with the new US 62 roadway and the routing of former NY 60 to Frewsburg became part of US 62.
NY 60 was realigned in the early 1960s to bypass Fredonia to the east on a newly upgraded highway leading from Laona to Reed Corners (US 20). From there, NY 60 was to follow a new highway to a point on Central Avenue near where it passes under the New York State Thruway
, where it would continue into Dunkirk on its original alignment. By 1968, the idea of constructing a new roadway was dropped and NY 60 was altered to use Bennett Road, Lamphere Street, and Main Street instead to reach East Lake Shore Drive (NY 5). The section of Main Street north of Franklin Street had been part of NY 39
from 1930 to the mid-1960s, when NY 39 was cut back to its current western terminus.
The former routing of NY 60 between Laona and US 20 in the center of Fredonia remained state maintained as an unsigned reference route for over a decade after it ceased to be part of NY 60. On April 1, 1980, ownership and maintenance of the reference route was transferred from the state of New York
to Chautauqua County
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. The highway is now internally designated as County Highway 140 by Chautauqua County; however, it does not have a signed number.
NY 60 has been particularly prone to a large number of automobile crashes that lead to fatalities. Since 1972, 82 fatal car crashes have been documented on the highway. The high traffic on the two-lane highway, which is the main road between Jamestown and Dunkirk, makes it difficult and dangerous for vehicles to pass.
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 Chautauqua County, New York
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The southern terminus of the route is at an intersection with U.S. Route 62 south of the city of Jamestown
Jamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
in the town of Kiantone
Kiantone, New York
Kiantone, New York is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 1,385.The Town of Kiantone is immediately south of Jamestown, New York and is at the south border of the county....
. Its northern terminus is at a junction with NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
in the city of Dunkirk
Dunkirk (city), New York
Dunkirk is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the USA. It was officially incorporated in 1880, though it was first settled around 1805. The population was 12,563 at the 2010 census. Dunkirk is bordered on the north by Lake Erie. It shares a border with the Village of Fredonia to the south,...
. In between, NY 60 intersects the lengthy County Route 380
County Route 380 (Chautauqua County, New York)
New York State Route 380 was a north–south state highway in Chautauqua County, New York, in the United States. The southern terminus of the route was at an intersection with NY 60 in the town of Gerry. Its northern terminus was at a junction with NY 5 north of the village of...
twice (in Kiantone and in Gerry
Gerry, New York
Gerry is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 2,054 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Elbridge Gerry, a Vice-President of the U.S....
) and meets the Southern Tier Expressway (in Ellicott
Ellicott, New York
Ellicott is a town in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 9,280 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Joseph Ellicott, an agent of the Holland Land Company....
) and the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
(in Dunkirk).
History
When NY 60 was assigned in the mid-1920s, it began at the New York – Pennsylvania border southeast of JamestownJamestown, New York
Jamestown is a city in Chautauqua County, New York in the United States. The population was 31,146 at the 2010 census.The City of Jamestown is adjacent to Town of Ellicott and is at the southern tip of Chautauqua Lake...
and ended at NY 5 (now U.S. Route 20) in Fredonia
Fredonia, New York
Fredonia is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 11,068 as of 2009.The Village of Fredonia is in the Town of Pomfret south of Lake Erie...
. In between, the route passed through Frewsburg, Jamestown, and Cassadaga
Cassadaga, New York
Cassadaga is an incorporated village located in Chautauqua County, New York, in the United States. The village is located within the northeast corner of the Town of Stockton, east of the village of Stockton, south of and immediately adjacent to Lily Dale in the Town of Pomfret, and north of the...
. From Laona
Laona, New York
Laona is a hamlet in Chautauqua County, New York, United States, near the village of Fredonia. It is part of the town of Pomfret, New York and New York State Route 60 runs through it. Laona is at an elevation of 850 ft above sea level....
to Fredonia, NY 60 was routed on Porter Avenue, Liberty Street, and Water Street. NY 60 was extended north to NY 20A (modern NY 5
New York State Route 5
New York State Route 5 is a state highway that extends for across the state of New York in the United States. It begins at the Pennsylvania state line in the Chautauqua County town of Ripley and passes through Buffalo, Syracuse, Utica, Schenectady, and several other smaller cities and...
) in Dunkirk by way of Temple Street and Central Avenue as part of the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York.
Ca. 1932, U.S. Route 62 was extended into New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. From the Pennsylvania state line to Frewsburg, US 62 initially overlapped NY 60. The overlap was eliminated in the 1940s when NY 60 was truncated northward to its junction with US 62 in Frewsburg. In the mid-1960s, construction began on a new alignment for US 62 between the Pennsylvania state line and NY 60 west of Frewsburg. The highway opened to traffic as a realignment of US 62 by 1973. As a result, NY 60 was truncated to its junction with the new US 62 roadway and the routing of former NY 60 to Frewsburg became part of US 62.
NY 60 was realigned in the early 1960s to bypass Fredonia to the east on a newly upgraded highway leading from Laona to Reed Corners (US 20). From there, NY 60 was to follow a new highway to a point on Central Avenue near where it passes under the New York State Thruway
New York State Thruway
The New York State Thruway is a system of limited-access highways located within the state of New York in the United States. The system, known officially as the Governor Thomas E. Dewey Thruway for former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey, is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority and...
, where it would continue into Dunkirk on its original alignment. By 1968, the idea of constructing a new roadway was dropped and NY 60 was altered to use Bennett Road, Lamphere Street, and Main Street instead to reach East Lake Shore Drive (NY 5). The section of Main Street north of Franklin Street had been part of NY 39
New York State Route 39
New York State Route 39 is an east–west state highway in the western portion of New York in the United States. It begins and ends at intersections with U.S. Route 20 apart...
from 1930 to the mid-1960s, when NY 39 was cut back to its current western terminus.
The former routing of NY 60 between Laona and US 20 in the center of Fredonia remained state maintained as an unsigned reference route for over a decade after it ceased to be part of NY 60. On April 1, 1980, ownership and maintenance of the reference route was transferred from the state of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
to Chautauqua County
Chautauqua County, New York
-Major highways:* Interstate 86/New York State Route 17 * Interstate 90 * U.S. Route 20* U.S. Route 62* New York State Route 5* New York State Route 39* New York State Route 60* New York State Route 394...
as part of a highway maintenance swap between the two levels of government. The highway is now internally designated as County Highway 140 by Chautauqua County; however, it does not have a signed number.
NY 60 has been particularly prone to a large number of automobile crashes that lead to fatalities. Since 1972, 82 fatal car crashes have been documented on the highway. The high traffic on the two-lane highway, which is the main road between Jamestown and Dunkirk, makes it difficult and dangerous for vehicles to pass.