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Interstate 287 (abbreviated '''I-287''') is a major Interstate 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. Both of its termini are located on Interstate 95 . 287 (the entire length through New Jersey) is sometimes referred to as the '' Middlesex Freeway ''. 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 . Opposition to Robert Moses' proposed bridge from Westchester to Oyster Bay on Long Island ensured that Interstate 287 would never become a true beltway like its more famous cousin in Washington DC (see below). MAJOR CITIES Bolded cities are officially-designated Control Cities for signs.
ROUTE DESCRIPTON New York Working counter-clockwise, it begins in Port Chester, New York at the New England Thruway ( Interstate 95 ). It is also called the Cross-Westchester Expressway until the New York State Thruway merge. Once merged with the westbound Thruway (and northbound 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. New Jersey 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 . The I-287 signage ends at its interchange with the New Jersey Turnpike ( Interstate 95 ); however, the roadway continues as New Jersey State Highway 440 towards Staten Island . Exit List New Jersey New York LENGTH
SPUR ROUTES NOTES Interstate 287 holds an unusual distinction of being a multi-state three-digit interstate whose parent is an ''intrastate'' two-digit interstate. 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. The rest of the NY section is called the Cross-Westchester Expressway , which is maintained by the Thruway Authority; however, no tolls exist on it and signs referring to the Thruway Authority are rare along its length. This arrangement is similar to that of Interstate 84 in New York. It is interesting to note that both ends of I-287 are at Interstate 95 , yet its parent route is Interstate 87 . It could arguably also be signed as a three digit interstate of I-95, with an even first number, because it loops around the New York City area (but this is presently impossible because 295 , 495 , 695 , and 895 are all used). The final choice of numbering might be explained by early proposals, most prominently made by Robert Moses , to incorporate the Seaford Oyster Bay Expressway and the proposed (but never completed) Rye-Oyster Bay Bridge into the highway. If this had happened, I-287 would have ended on the south shore of Long Island , not Westchester , creating almost an entire loop around New York City (with the exception of the southern and southeastern part, which is the Atlantic Ocean , but even this could have been fixed by making I-287 merge with the Belt Parkway ). In New York, Thruway exits 8 and 8A and Cross-Westchester Expressway exit 1 are really just one big interchange now. Formerly, there were two separate interchanges: Thruway 8 (CWX) and CWX 1 (Saw Mill River Parkway to/from north only (use Thruway interchange 7A for to/from south), with access only to/from west (use interchange 3 for access to/from the east)). Due to the recent rebuilding of interchange 8, all traffic from I-287 east must remain on the Thruway beyond point where I-287 leaves it and exit at 8A, which leads to what appears to be a service road for the CWX, but ends up leading to the SMRP. However, to reach I-287 west from the SMRP south, you merge with I-287 before merging with the Thruway (no 8A). FUTURE PLANS Due to the congestion along I-287 and the slow decay of the Tappan Zee Bridge , talks have begun regarding the possibility of replacing the bridge. A variety of transportation improvements are currently being considered, including a commuter rail system that would link the western shore of the Hudson River with Westchester County and New York City . The proposed alternatives can be viewed at the official Tappan Zee Bridge website: I-287 Proposed Alternatives . SOURCES
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