Kennedy Airport Interchange
| Company type | Transportation infrastructure |
|---|---|
| Industry | Highway interchange |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Robert Moses |
| Headquarters | Queens, New York , United States |
Area served | John F. Kennedy International Airport and vicinity |
The Kennedy Airport Interchange is an extensive and intricate highway interchange situated along the northern edge of John F. Kennedy International Airport within the Queens borough of New York, United States.
Description
Serving as a crucial transportation node for JFK Airport and its vicinity, the Kennedy Airport Interchange links four limited-access highways: the Belt Parkway, Van Wyck Expressway (I-678), Nassau Expressway (I-878 / NY 878), and the JFK Expressway. Additionally, it connects two significant surface roads, namely North / South Conduit Avenue (NY 27) and 150th Street.
On the JFK Expressway, a short ramp exists in anticipation of a future connection to proposed westbound lanes of the Nassau Expressway that were never constructed. These expansion plans were officially abandoned in 1995.
History
The interchange was originally developed by Robert Moses between 1948 and 1950 as part of the Van Wyck Expressway initiative designed to serve Idlewild Airport (which was later renamed JFK Airport). Initially, it featured a conventional cloverleaf layout linking the Van Wyck Expressway with North and South Conduit Avenue. Partial operation began in 1948 when the Van Wyck reached southward to airport terminals, with full completion by 1950 including an extension north to Queens Boulevard.
During the 1960s, construction of the Nassau Expressway (Interstate 878) led to modifications at the interchange. This included replacing the southern cloverleaf ramps with a more sophisticated design aimed at enhancing traffic movement.
Plans to extend the Clearview Expressway southward to JFK Airport and integrate it with this interchange were cancelled in 1971. Subsequently, in the 1980s, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey constructed the JFK Expressway along portions of this abandoned extension route, further altering and enlarging the interchange. This new segment opened circa 1986 as part of a comprehensive $3 billion regional airport improvement effort, significantly improving access to JFK.
See also
External links
- Empire State Roads Interchange of the Week, February 26, 2001 (includes photographs)