New York State Route 85A
Encyclopedia
New York State Route 85A (NY 85A) is an east–west state highway
in Albany County, New York
, in the United States. It serves as a 5.54 miles (8.92 km), two-lane alternate route
of NY 85
through the town of New Scotland
, running from the hamlet of New Salem to the hamlet of New Scotland. While NY 85 bypasses the village of Voorheesville
to the south, NY 85A directly serves it, connecting to two state routes inside of the village limits. The route was assigned ca. 1932 to its current alignment.
in the hamlet of New Salem
, located in the northwestern portion of the town of New Scotland
. It heads northward from the site of the Punkintown Fair as New Salem Road, leaving New Salem for slightly more open areas north of the hamlet. Development along the route remains high, however, as the two-lane road passes by several residential street and serves Clayton A. Bouton High School. About 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north of New Salem, the route makes a sharp turn to the east, running by another line of homes on its way into the village of Voorheesville
. Inside the village, NY 85A becomes known as Helderberg Parkway.
As it approaches the center of the village, NY 85A serves Voorheesville Elementary School and meets the eastern end of NY 156
. While NY 156 heads northwest out of the village on Altamont Road, NY 85A continues east through Voorheesville's commercial and residential center on Maple Avenue. Along the way, the route passes through a brief undeveloped stretch, where it passes under the CSX Transportation
-owned Selkirk Subdivision
rail line. On the eastern fringe of the village, the route connects to the western terminus of NY 155
by way of a roundabout
. Now under the name Maple Road, NY 85A heads southeast from the village, connecting to several housing tracts and passing by Colonie Country Club. Roughly 1 miles (1.6 km) from NY 155, the highway turns due southward, traversing open fields to return to NY 85 at a junction east of the hamlet of New Scotland.
by 1926 and designated as NY 85A ca. 1932. East of Voorheesville
, NY 85A was originally concurrent
with NY 156
to NY 85
, where both routes ended. The overlap between the two routes was eliminated when NY 156 was truncated to Voorheesville at some point between 1950 and 1965.
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 Albany County, New York
Albany County, New York
Albany County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and is part of the Albany-Schenectady-Troy Metropolitan Statistical Area. The name is from the title of the Duke of York and Albany, who became James II of England . As of the 2010 census, the population was 304,204...
, in the United States. It serves as a 5.54 miles (8.92 km), two-lane alternate route
Alternate route
An official alternate route is a special route in the United States that provides an alternate alignment for a highway. They are loop roads and found in many road systems in the United States including the U.S. Route system and various state route systems...
of NY 85
New York State Route 85
New York State Route 85 is a state highway in Albany County, New York, in the United States. It is long and runs from County Route 351 and CR 353 in Rensselaerville to Interstate 90 exit 4 in Albany. It also has a loop route, NY 85A, which connects NY 85 to...
through the town of New Scotland
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
, running from the hamlet of New Salem to the hamlet of New Scotland. While NY 85 bypasses the village of Voorheesville
Voorheesville, New York
Voorheesville is a village within the town of New Scotland in Albany County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Albany and part of the city's historic metropolitan area. The population was 2,789 at the 2010 census. The village is named after a railroad attorney, Alonzo B...
to the south, NY 85A directly serves it, connecting to two state routes inside of the village limits. The route was assigned ca. 1932 to its current alignment.
Route description
NY 85A begins at an intersection with NY 85New York State Route 85
New York State Route 85 is a state highway in Albany County, New York, in the United States. It is long and runs from County Route 351 and CR 353 in Rensselaerville to Interstate 90 exit 4 in Albany. It also has a loop route, NY 85A, which connects NY 85 to...
in the hamlet of New Salem
New Salem, New York
New Salem is a hamlet in the town of New Scotland, Albany County, New York. It is located in a valley at the foot of the Helderberg Escarpment along New York State Route 85. A local fair and car show is held every year in this small hamlet...
, located in the northwestern portion of the town of New Scotland
New Scotland, New York
New Scotland is a town in Albany County, New York, United States. The population was 8,648 at the 2010 census.The town is southwest of Albany, New York, the state capital. New Scotland is centrally located in the county.-History:...
. It heads northward from the site of the Punkintown Fair as New Salem Road, leaving New Salem for slightly more open areas north of the hamlet. Development along the route remains high, however, as the two-lane road passes by several residential street and serves Clayton A. Bouton High School. About 0.5 mile (0.80467 km) north of New Salem, the route makes a sharp turn to the east, running by another line of homes on its way into the village of Voorheesville
Voorheesville, New York
Voorheesville is a village within the town of New Scotland in Albany County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Albany and part of the city's historic metropolitan area. The population was 2,789 at the 2010 census. The village is named after a railroad attorney, Alonzo B...
. Inside the village, NY 85A becomes known as Helderberg Parkway.
As it approaches the center of the village, NY 85A serves Voorheesville Elementary School and meets the eastern end of NY 156
New York State Route 156
New York State Route 156 is a state highway in New York. The highway runs from the hamlet of Berne to the village of Voorheesville. A two-lane highway its entire length, NY 156 is entirely located within Albany County....
. While NY 156 heads northwest out of the village on Altamont Road, NY 85A continues east through Voorheesville's commercial and residential center on Maple Avenue. Along the way, the route passes through a brief undeveloped stretch, where it passes under the CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
-owned Selkirk Subdivision
Selkirk Subdivision
The Selkirk Subdivision is a railroad line owned by CSX Transportation in the U.S. State of New York. The line runs from Selkirk northwest to Amsterdam along a former New York Central Railroad line. At its southeast end, at Selkirk Yard, the Selkirk Subdivision becomes the Castleton Subdivision...
rail line. On the eastern fringe of the village, the route connects to the western terminus of NY 155
New York State Route 155
New York State Route 155 is a 17-mile long state highway located entirely within Albany County in the Capital District of New York. The western terminus of the route is at NY 85A in Voorheesville...
by way of a roundabout
Roundabout
A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...
. Now under the name Maple Road, NY 85A heads southeast from the village, connecting to several housing tracts and passing by Colonie Country Club. Roughly 1 miles (1.6 km) from NY 155, the highway turns due southward, traversing open fields to return to NY 85 at a junction east of the hamlet of New Scotland.
History
The entirety of modern NY 85A was taken over by the state of New YorkNew 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...
by 1926 and designated as NY 85A ca. 1932. East of Voorheesville
Voorheesville, New York
Voorheesville is a village within the town of New Scotland in Albany County, New York, United States. It is a suburb of Albany and part of the city's historic metropolitan area. The population was 2,789 at the 2010 census. The village is named after a railroad attorney, Alonzo B...
, NY 85A was originally 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...
with NY 156
New York State Route 156
New York State Route 156 is a state highway in New York. The highway runs from the hamlet of Berne to the village of Voorheesville. A two-lane highway its entire length, NY 156 is entirely located within Albany County....
to NY 85
New York State Route 85
New York State Route 85 is a state highway in Albany County, New York, in the United States. It is long and runs from County Route 351 and CR 353 in Rensselaerville to Interstate 90 exit 4 in Albany. It also has a loop route, NY 85A, which connects NY 85 to...
, where both routes ended. The overlap between the two routes was eliminated when NY 156 was truncated to Voorheesville at some point between 1950 and 1965.