Interstate 287
Interstate 287 is a major highway in New Jersey and New York. It is a partial beltway around New York City, serving the northern half of New Jersey as well as the counties of Rockland and Westchester in New York. Its shape resembles a horseshoe.
Similar to what still exists today with the New Jersey portion of Interstate 95, Interstate 287 was long disjointed due to community opposition. The New York stretch effectively ended at Suffern, and the New Jersey portion at US 202 near Boonton, with a long gap between. Finally, by the late 1980s, construction commenced, with this missing section opening in 1994.
The entire New York section is operated by the New York State Thruway Authority, although only the section shared with I-87 is part of the mainline Thruway.
Route
Working counter-clockwise, it begins in Port Chester, New York. It is also called the Cross-Westchester Expressway until the New York State Thruway merge. Once merged with the westbound Thruway (and Interstate 87), it crosses the Tappan Zee Bridge over the Hudson River between Tarrytown and Nyack, and continues west to Suffern. It then leaves the Thruway (and Interstate 87) and crosses the New Jersey border. It then bears southwest in New Jersey, intersecting Interstate 80 near Parsippany. It continues further south, through Morristown and eventually to Bedminster, where it intersects Interstate 78. The highway then curves southeast, heading towards Perth Amboy.
Length
- New Jersey: 67.54 miles (108.7 km)
- New York:
- Cross Westchester Expressway ~10.5 miles
- New York State Thruway ~16.5
Sources
- 2005 Rand McNally Road Atlas
- NJDOT Straight Line Diagrams