Site Navigation Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont     Interstate 678 Northbound - Van Wyck Expressway Interstate 678 North Leaving Terminal 6 of JFK International Airport, drivers may depart the facility via either the JFK Expressway or Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway). The JFK Expressway comprises a north-south controlled access highway between the terminal and New York 878 (Nassau Expressway), Belt Parkway, and New York 27 (Conduit Avenue). Photo taken 08/29/05. The Airport loop partitions into roadways for the JFK Expressway northbound and Van Wyck Expressway. JFK Expressway provides access to northern portions of JFK Airport and Boundary Road. Return access to the terminal lies ahead of the Perimeter Road over crossing along the Van Wyck. Photo taken 08/29/05. Van Wyck Expressway northbound travelers pass underneath runways adjacent to Terminals 1 and 9 en route to Perimeter Road and the departure from the Central Terminal Area. Photo taken 08/29/05. After the aforementioned runway over crossings, the Van Wyck Expressway meets the North and South Service Roads. An off-ramp joins the freeway with the frontage roads to provide access to Airport Police, general aviation services, and return access to the Central Terminal Area. Photo taken 08/29/05. The first in a series of signs indicate the JFK Airport connections to the rest of New York City via Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) northbound. Pictured here is the Manhattan sign directing motorists to Interstate 495 (Exit 12) west to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel. Interstate 678 interchanges with the Long Island Expressway in 7.5 miles. Photo taken 08/29/05. Travelers bound for Brooklyn and Lower Manhattan should depart Interstate 678 via Exit 1A onto the Belt Parkway westbound. The Belt Parkway meets the Van Wyck Expressway at the northern end of JFK International Airport. Photo taken 08/29/05. The Belt Parkway westbound also provides the most direct route to the Verrazano Bridge (Interstate 278) west to Staten Island. Interstate 278 crosses the Verrazano Narrows 18 miles west of Interstate 678 and interchanges with the New Jersey Turnpike (Interstate 95) in 29 miles. Photo taken 08/29/05. Drivers destined for the Bronx and North Jersey via the George Washington Bridge should remain on Interstate 678 northbound to the Triborough Bridge. Passenger cars can use the Grand Central Parkway via Exit 10; commercial vehicles must use Astoria Avenue west from Interstate 678 at Exit 13. Photo taken 08/29/05. Continuing the Van Wyck Expressway northbound drive out of JFK Airport. Connecticut-bound traffic should take Interstate 678 northbound across the Bronx Whitestone Bridge to the Bruckner Interchange and Interstate 95 north. Interstate 95 follows the Bruckner Expressway and New England Thruway northeast from the Interstate 678 north end to Stamford, Connecticut. Photo taken 08/29/05. The Van Wyck Expressway encounters Federal Circle near the north end of JFK Airport. Federal Circle joins the freeway with North Service Road, Cargo Service Road, Bergen Road, and 134th Street. Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 travels over Federal Circle on the approach to the Belt Parkway, Nassau Expressway (New York 878), and Conduit Avenue (New York 27) directional-cloverleaf interchange. Interests to the Belt Parkway and New York 878 eastbound depart the freeway via Exits 1-1E. Exit 1B departs the freeway next onto Conduit Avenue (New York 27) westbound for the Belt Parkway to Brooklyn. Photo taken 08/29/05. Traffic merges onto Interstate 678 northbound from Federal Circle ahead of the Exit 1-1E ramp departure to New York 878 (Nassau Expressway) east to Rockaway Boulevard and Belt Parkway & New York 27 (Conduit Avenue) east to Laurelton and Long Island. New York 878 constitutes unsigned Interstate 878 between the Van Wyck Expressway and freeway end at Hangar Road. Photo taken 08/29/05. Three lanes of Interstate 678 northbound leave the airport grounds for Morris Park in Queens. Exits 1-1E depart via a two-lane off-ramp onto their respective paths to New York 878 east and Belt Parkway & New York 27 (Conduit Avenue) east. Conduit Avenue constitutes the frontage road system of the Belt Parkway from Ozone Park east to Laurelton near the New York City line. Photo taken 08/29/05. A guide sign lies at the gore point of Exits 1-1E, directing traffic onto the respective directions of the Belt Parkway. Exit 1B loops onto New York 27 (Conduit Avenue) westbound ahead. A slip ramp carries travelers from Conduit Avenue onto the Belt Parkway mainline ahead of Exit 18B to Lefferts Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/05. Cloverleaf ramps join North Conduit Avenue (New York 27) with Interstate 678. New York 27 represents an east-west touring route through Brooklyn and Queens along the Sunrise Highway, Conduit Avenue, Linden Boulevard, Caton Avenue, and the Prospect Expressway. The state route travels the length of Long Island between Red Hook (junction Interstate 278) and Montauk Point. Photo taken 08/29/05. The eastbound carriageway of the Nassau Expressway travels over Interstate 678 northbound ahead of the Exit 1B loop ramp departure. A collector/distributor roadway serves interests to both Belt Parkway west via Exit 1B and Rockaway Boulevard via Exit 2. Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 passes over Conduit Avenue and the Belt Parkway mainline near South Ozone Park in Queens. The mainline reduces to two lanes at the Exits 1B-2 c/d roadway departure. Photo taken 08/29/05. Exit 1B leaves Interstate 678 at the Exit 2 c/d roadway. North Conduit Avenue westbound merges with the Nassau Expressway two miles to the west at Ozone Park. From there the divided highway ventures northwest to Linden Boulevard (New York 27) and Atlantic Avenue. The alignment represents the eastern reaches of the unconstructed Interstate 78 (Bushwick Expressway). Photo taken 08/29/05. The Exit 2 c/d roadway merges with traffic emanating from North Conduit Avenue and New York 878 (Nassau Expressway) westbound ahead of the 133rd Avenue overpass. Exit 2 ascends onto the adjacent frontage road system of the Van Wyck Expressway ahead of its intersection with Rockaway Boulevard. Rockaway Boulevard heads west from the freeway through South Ozone Park. Drivers otherwise merge onto the Interstate 678 mainline ahead of the Rockaway Boulevard over crossing. Photo taken 06/26/05. The return of the Exit 2 c/d roadway expands Interstate 678 northbound to three through lanes. Departing the freeway ahead is Exit 3 for Linden Boulevard. Linden Boulevard travels west to Rockaway Boulevard at the Aqueduct Race Track and east to the Cedar Manor neighborhood. Photo taken 08/29/05. Northbound at the Foch Boulevard over crossing, one quarter mile south of the Linden Boulevard diamond interchange. Photo taken 08/29/05. Exit 3 departs Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) northbound onto the adjacent frontage street system for Linden Boulevard. Linden Boulevard intersects Lefferts Boulevard 0.9 miles to the west and Sutphin Boulevard 0.6 miles to the east. Photo taken 08/29/05. Drivers entering Interstate 678 northbound from Linden Boulevard form the exit-only lane for Exit 4 (Liberty Avenue). Liberty Avenue serves the Hillside community to the east of the Van Wyck and Morris Park to the west. Photo taken 06/26/05. Interstate 678 northbound at the Exit 4 ramp departure onto the adjacent frontage street for Liberty Avenue. Liberty Avenue meanders east from Ozone Park to St. Albans in south Queens. Photo taken 08/29/05. Departing the freeway next is the Exit 5 off-ramp for Atlantic Avenue. Pictured here is a button copy overhead attached to the Liberty Avenue overpass. Photo taken 08/29/05. Drivers bound for Atlantic Avenue leave Interstate 678 northbound at the 101st Avenue over crossing. Atlantic Avenue constitutes a major surface boulevard from the Van Wyck Expressway west to Woodhaven, Crown Heights, and Brooklyn Heights. 94th Avenue continues the road east 0.4 miles to Sutphin Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/05. An elevated rail line follows the centerline of Interstate 678 between the Central Terminal Area of JFK International and 94th Avenue in south Queens. Known as Airtrain, the line links the airport with the MTA Long Island Rail Road (LIRR), MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) subways, and local buses. The automated Light Rail Transit System was built between 1998 and 2003. Trains run along the line every two minutes between the airport terminals and four minutes to and from Jamaica or Howard Beach. Connections to the LIRR provide a 45-minute commute time to midtown Manhattan.1 Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 passes underneath Atlantic Avenue, the Long Island Railroad, and the F Line of the New York Metro Subway system ahead of the Jamaica neighborhood of Queens. Exit 6 joins the freeway with Hillside, Jamaica, and Metropolitan Avenues. Photo taken 08/29/05. A slip ramp adds traffic to Interstate 678 northbound from 94th and Atlantic Avenues in south Jamaica. Photo taken 08/29/05. Northbound at the Exit 6 slip ramp to Jamaica and Hillside Avenues. Jamaica and Hillside Avenues parallel one another through the Richmond Hill, Jamaica, Hillside and Hollis communities of central Queens. Metropolitan Avenue branches northwest from Jamaica Avenue nearby to Forest Hills and Middle Village in west Queens. Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 enters a construction zone between the Jamaica Avenue and 86th Avenue pedestrian over crossing. Temporary signs advise motorists of the impending junction with the Grand Central Parkway northbound and the connections to Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway). Commercial vehicles are prohibited from using the parkway due to low bridge clearances and therefore must remain on Interstate 678 north to Exit 12. Photo taken 08/29/05. Exit 8 provides a high speed connection to Main Street northbound from Interstate 678. Main Street constitutes a multi-lane arterial northward from Jamaica to Flushing. Photo taken 08/29/05. Nearing the Exit 8 ramp departure onto Main Street northbound. Main Street intersects Union Turnpike in three quarters of a mile. Union Turnpike comprises an east-west surface arterial from the Jackie Robinson Parkway at Forest Park east to Utopia and Glen Oaks, parallel to the Grand Central Parkway corridor. Photo taken 08/29/05. Main Street departs Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) as a short expressway to 84th Road. The surface boulevard intersects the Grand Central Parkway frontage street system ahead of Union Turnpike. Photo taken 06/26/05. New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) passes over Interstate 678 northbound ahead of the Exit 9 directional ramp onto Queens Boulevard north. New York 25, like New York 27, constitutes a touring route through Queens and New York. The state highway follows Hillside Avenue west from Braddock Avenue at Queens Village to Jamaica and Queens Boulevard. At Queens Boulevard, New York 25 turns northwest to Kew Gardens and Rego Park. Photo taken 08/29/05. Exit 9 branches away from Interstate 678 directly onto New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) westbound. Queens Boulevard carries the state highway northwest through Elmhurst, Woodside, and Sunnyside to the Queensboro Bridge and the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Photo taken 06/26/05. Interstate 678 approaches the Kew Gardens interchange with Grand Central Parkway, Jackie Robinson Parkway, and Union Turnpike (Exit 10). The junction involves a major partition in traffic between the Van Wyck Expressway and GCP northbound for their respective connections to the Bronx Whitestone Bridge and Triborough Bridge. Exit 10 departs Interstate 678 from the left-hand lanes onto the GCP north along the western periphery of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Photo taken 08/29/05. Northbound at the Hoover Avenue overpass ahead of the Exit 10 ramp split with the Grand Central Parkway northbound on Interstate 678. The Grand Central Parkway represents a heavily traveled corridor between the JFK Airport and Triborough Bridge. The Triboro Bridges provide routes into Upper Manhattan and the Bronx at the north end of the GCP. Interstate 678 meanwhile straddles the eastern reaches of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park through to Northern Boulevard. Photo taken 06/26/05. Entering the Kew Gardens interchange at the Exit 10 ramp departure onto the Grand Central Parkway northbound. Both the GCP and Interstate 678 interchange with Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) in two miles. The low bridge clearances prohibit all vehicles with a height of 10'5" from using the parkway. Photo taken 06/26/05. Interstate 678 northbound passes over the Kew Gardens interchange with no other off-ramps. Instead northbound motorists next encounter Exit 11 to Park Drive East at 72nd Avenue. Park Drive East travels north along side the freeway to Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue east of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Photo taken 06/26/05. Six lanes of the Van Wyck Expressway travel between the Kew Gardens interchange and junction Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway). Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue transitions to 69th Road and Jewell Avenue west of Interstate 678. The two streets form a one-way couplet west to New York 25 (Queens Boulevard) at Rego Park. Photo taken 06/26/05. Interests to Flushing Meadows-Corona Park should use Exit 12A (College Point Boulevard) and 13 (Northern Boulevard). Exit 12A provides a loop ramp onto the parallel southbound park road at Meadow Lake. Exit 13 serves the Shea Stadium Area. Photo taken 06/26/05. Exit 11 leaves Interstate 678 northbound for the intersection of Park Drive East and 72nd Avenue. 72nd Avenue travels east from the off-ramp to Main Street. Harry Van Arsdale Jr. Avenue also travels east to Main Street, Kissena Boulevard, and Fresh Meadows. Photo taken 06/26/05. Tourists destined for the USTA National Tennis Center, Queens Museum of Art, Queens Theatre in the Park and Ice Skating Rink should use Exit 12A onto College Point Boulevard northbound. College Point Boulevard skims the eastern reaches of the park to provide connections via Meridian Road and Roosevelt Avenue. Additionally Exit 12A connects to the Horace Harding Expressway (Interstate 495 c/d roadway) ahead of its ramp onto the Grand Central Parkway northbound. The GCP provides ramps directly to the tennis center. Photo taken 06/26/05. Exit 12A is the signed route for Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) eastbound. However to make the connection, motorists must use College Point Boulevard. The surface roadway serves the Meadow Lake area of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, the New York Hall of Science and the Queens Botanical Gardens. Photo taken 06/26/05. Drivers merging onto Interstate 678 northbound from Park Drive East and 136th Street form an exit-only lane for Interstate 495 east and College Point Boulevard (Exit 12A) north. To make the connection onto the Long Island Expressway east, motorists must use College Point Boulevard north onto the Horace Harding Expressway frontage road of Interstate 495 east. Interstate 495 constitutes a heavily traveled route from Midtown Manhattan to Nassau and Suffolk Counties on Long Island. Photo taken 06/26/05. Another in a series of recreational signs guides motorists destined for Shea Stadium, home of the New York Mets baseball club, and Queens Marina onto New York 25A (Northern Boulevard) westbound at Exit 13. Interstate 678 leaves Flushing Meadows-Corona Park at Northern Boulevard. Photo taken 06/26/05. State-name shields adorn the overheads on the Exit 12A sign bridge of Interstate 678 northbound. Interstate 495 east continues from Flushing Meadows-Corona Park 3.5 miles to junction Interstate 295 (Clearview Expressway), 5.3 miles to the Cross Island Parkway, and 63 miles to the eastern terminus near Riverhead. Photo taken 06/26/05. A northbound flyover ramp from the Meadow Lake area of the park partitions into ramps for College Point Boulevard and Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) northbound after Exit 12A. Photo taken 08/29/05. Following the Exit 12A transition to College Point Boulevard north. A U-turn ramp departs ahead onto College Point Boulevard southbound at Meadow Lake. Photo taken 06/26/05. College Point Boulevard approaches Horace Harding Expressway eastbound. Access exists to both directions of Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) via L.I.E. frontage road system. The Long Island Expressway was originally touted as the Horace Harding Expressway and the naming convention remains in use along the frontage road system of the Interstate 495 through central Queens. Photo taken 06/26/05. College Point Boulevard continues north to the westbound frontage street, Flushing, and College Point itself. Stay on the boulevard for the aforementioned attractions of Flushing Meadows-Corona Park. Motorists bound for Interstate 495 eastbound merge onto Horace Harding Expressway east. Photo taken 06/26/05. A brief foray with Horace Harding Expressway eastbound brings drivers onto the Interstate 495 eastbound on-ramp, thus completing the Exit 12A connection from Interstate 678 north. The Long Island Expressway enters the Fresh Meadows and Oakland Gardens communities of east Queens ahead. Photo taken 06/26/05. Exit 12B comprises a flyover ramp directly onto Interstate 495 (Long Island Expressway) westbound from Interstate 678 north. Original button copy guide signs remain in use for the connection. Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) northbound at the Exit 12B ramp departure to Interstate 495 west. Interstate 495 meets the Grand Central Parkway nearby on the five mile drive to junction Interstate 278 (Brooklyn-Queens Expressway) and seven mile drive to the Queens Midtown Tunnel. Photo taken 08/29/05. The Van Wyck Expressway travels an elevated highway from Interstate 495 northward to the Northern Boulevard interchange (Exit 13) at Flushing Bay. Photo taken 06/13/05. Next in line for northbound motorists is the Exit 13 directional interchange with New York 25A (Northern Boulevard) and the Astoria Boulevard connector. New York 25A constitutes a touring route along Jackson Avenue and Northern Boulevard between the Queensboro Bridge and Nassau County. Photo taken 08/29/05. Interstate 678 passes underneath the Roosevelt Avenue and #7 Metro line. The #7 line ends nearby at the Flushing-Main Street station. Roosevelt Avenue travels east-west between Jackson Heights, Corona, and Flushing. Photo taken 08/29/05. Exit 13 leaves Interstate 678 northbound for New York 25A (Northern Boulevard). New York 25 eastbound travels to the Auburndale community of north Queens. Westbound parallels the Astoria Boulevard freeway connector between Interstate 678, the Grand Central Parkway, and Astoria Boulevard. Photo taken 08/29/05. The ramp to New York 25A (Northern Boulevard) partitions into components to east and westbound. Northern Boulevard travels west between East Elmhurst and Corona to Jackson Heights. Astoria Boulevard comprises the truck route to the Triborough Bridge in lieu of Grand Central Parkway. The GCP straddles the East River to La Guardia Airport and Interstate 278 (Brooklyn Queens Expressway). Photo taken 06/13/05. Northbound reassurance marker posted at the Interstate 678 transition from the Van Wyck to the Whitestone Expressway after Exit 13 (New York 25A). The freeway viaduct continues north to Linden Place. Photo taken 06/13/05. Sources: JFK Facts and History Page Updated January 10, 2006.