Site Navigation Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont     Interstate 690 Eastbound Looping through the city of Syracuse, Interstate 690 travels between Van Buren, Solvay and East Syracuse. The Interstate 690 freeway continues northwest from the New York Thruway interchange to Baldwinsville as New York 690. Interstate 690 East Travelers bound for Interstate 690 depart Interstate 90 via the Exit 39 interchange of the New York Thruway at Van Buren. A toll plaza resides along the connector road between the two freeways. Photo taken 05/09/05. Continuing beyond the toll plaza is the partitioning of traffic between the eastbound beginning of Interstate 690 and northbound beginning of New York 690. New York 690 continues the Interstate 690 freeway six miles northwest to Baldwinsville. Interests to Fulton and Oswego should also use New York 690 for its connections to New York 48. Photo taken 05/09/05. An Interstate 81 trailblazer joins the Interstate 690 shield assembly to direct truck traffic bound for Cortland and Binghamton onto Interstate 81 south from downtown. Photo taken 05/09/05. Situated immediately east of the Exit 1 trumpet interchange with Interstate 90 and New York 690, is the Interstate 690 folded-diamond interchange with Jones Road. Jones Road represents a short connector between Van Buren Road, Brickyard Road, and New York 48 (State Fair Boulevard) nearby. Photo taken 05/09/05. Exit 2 departs Interstate 690 eastbound for Jones Road and a nearby industrial area including Stiles and Interstate Island Roads. Use Jones Road to New York 48 north or Van Buren Road north for the village of Van Buren. Photo taken 05/09/05. The first eastbound reassurance shield for Interstate 690 resides within the Exit 2 interchange at Jones Road. Photo taken 05/09/05. Drivers merging onto Interstate 690 eastbound from Jones Road form the exit-only lane to John Glenn Boulevard eastbound. John Glenn Boulevard constitutes a divided parkway eastward to Buckley Road and Woodard north of Interstate 690. Photo taken 05/09/05. A rare state-named shield for Interstate 690 lies next to the freeway ahead of Exit 4 off-ramp. Photo taken 05/09/05. Exit 4 provides connections to the Farrell Road industrial area and junction New York 370 (Cold Springs Road) to Liverpool. New York 370 travels west along Onondaga Lake Parkway from U.S. 11 in Syracuse to Liverpool and John Glen Boulevard. The state highway continues northwest to Baldwinsville. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 eastbound at the Exit 4 ramp departure to John Glenn Boulevard. John Glenn Boulevard represents a planned limited-access arterial that was to travel between Interstate 690 and New York 481. The four-lane divided highway opened between the freeway and Buckley Road in the early 1970s; the remainder of the roadway to New York 481 remains unconstructed.1 Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 crosses over Interstate 90 and approaches the Exit 5 partial-cloverleaf interchange with Van Neck Road and State Fair Boulevard. Photo taken 05/09/05. Van Neck Road serves an industrial area in the wedge between Interstate 90 (New York Thruway), Interstate 690, and Onondaga Lake Park. State Fair Boulevard continues Van Peck Road southeast to the New York State Fairgrounds parallel to Interstate 690 east. Photo taken 05/09/05. Eastbound at the Exit 5 ramp departure to Van Neck Road west and State Fairgrounds Boulevard east. During the New York State fair, Interstate 690 travelers are provided direct access to the fair grounds via a traffic light with the freeway. Otherwise use State Fairgrounds Boulevard through Lakeland to access the venue. Photo taken 05/09/05. Moving toward the directional-cloverleaf interchange with the New York 695 freeway on Interstate 690 east. New York 695 acts as a connector between the Interstate 690 and New York 5 freeways between Fairmount and Solvay. Photo taken 05/09/05. An auxiliary guide sign touts the New York 695 connection to Fairmont and Camillus, two communities that the New York 5 freeway bypasses. Genesee Street (old New York 5) travels through the villages south of the New York 5 bypass. Photo taken 05/09/05. One half mile west of the Exit 6 off-ramp to New York 695 southbound. New York 695 features an off-ramp to State Fair Boulevard for the nearby community of Lakeland. The freeway otherwise ends at junction New York 5 in 1.75 miles. Photo taken 05/09/05. Eastbound at the Exit 6 ramp departure onto the southbound beginning of New York 695. Long distance travelers bound for the city of Auburn should use New York 695 south to New York 5 west. New York 5 east serves the communities of Westvale and Solvay en route to downtown Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 eastbound reassurance shield coupled with an Interstate 81 New York trailblazer found beyond the Exit 6 gore point. Photo taken 05/09/05. Exit 7 joins Interstate 690 eastbound with New York 297 (Bridge Street) adjacent to its intersection with State Fair Boulevard. The New York State Fairgrounds reside south of the freeway between New York 695 and Bridge Street. Photo taken 05/09/05. New York 297 flows southwest from Interstate 690 into the west Syracuse suburb of Solvay to junction New York 173 (Warners Road) at Fairmont. Bridge Street intersects Milton Avenue 1.1 miles to the south of Exit 7. Photo taken 05/09/05. Next in line for eastbound travelers is the Exit 8 off-ramp to Hiawatha Boulevard. Hiawatha Boulevard travels north-south between New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) and 7th North Street through west Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 straddles the southern shores of Onondaga Lake between the State Fairgrounds Boulevard access road under pass and Willis Avenue. State Fairgrounds Boulevard itself parallels the freeway between the Exit 7 half-diamond interchange and Willis Avenue on-ramp. Photos taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 eastbound on the approach to the Hiawatha Boulevard half-diamond interchange. Travel interests to Interstate 81 northbound must use New York 298 (Bear Street) northbound to make the connection as there is no direct ramp at the actual meeting of the two freeways. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 crosses the city limits of Syracuse. Syracuse began as Salina along the Erie Canal with a basis on the economic staple of salt. In 1820 the settlement of Syracuse formed, named by John Wilkinson after a geographically similar city in Italy by the same name. By 1839, railroads arrived to strengthen the town's area as a transportation hub and in 1847 Salina and Syracuse merged to form the city of Syracuse.2 Photo taken 05/09/05. Drawing to within one quarter mile of the Hiawatha Boulevard off-ramp at Exit 8. Use Hiawatha Boulevard south to Erie Boulevard and New York 5 east into the central business district of the city. Photo taken 05/09/05. Hiawatha Boulevard serves the Syracuse area attractions of the Carousel Center, a large shopping mall, and the Rosamond Gifford Zoo at Burnet Park. Photo taken 05/09/05. Exit 8 departs Interstate 690 eastbound for Hiawatha Boulevard, one quarter mile west of the partial "Y" interchange with the northbound beginning of New York 298 (Bear Street). Photo taken 05/09/05. Travelers bound for the Interstate 81 northbound control city of Watertown should use New York 298 (Bear Street) northbound 1.5 miles to the Sunset Avenue on-ramp. Watertown lies 68 miles to the north in Jefferson County. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 crosses over Hiawatha Boulevard ahead of the Exit 9 directional ramp onto New York 298 (Bear Street) northbound. New York 298 travels 15 miles northeast from Syracuse to junction New York 31 at Bridgeport near Oneida Lake. Photo taken 05/09/05. Motorists bound for New York 298 (Bear Street) north and Interstate 81 north depart Interstate 690 east at Exit 9. Bear Street carries the state highway northeast to junction Interstate 81. From there, New York 298 continues northeast along Court Street through north Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. The Carrier Dome, home to Syracuse University Football and other entertainment events, lies east of Interstate 81 at the corner of Sims Drive and Irving Avenue. Traffic to the dome should follow Interstate 690 east to Interstate 81 and depart at Exit 17 (State Street) for area parking. Photo taken 05/09/05. In addition to the Carrier Dome, the On Center provides Syracuse residents with a concert and sports venue as well as a convention center. The facility includes the war memorial and it resides along South State Street in downtown Syracuse (accessible from Exit 11). Photo taken 05/09/05. Departing Interstate 690 eastbound next are Exits 11 and 12 in unison at West Street north of downtown Syracuse. West Street constitutes a freeway spur into downtown with connections to Erie Boulevard (New York 5) and Fayette Street. West Genesee Street parallels the freeway from Geddes Street east to Salina Street. Photo taken 05/09/05. The dual Exit 11-12 off-ramp ascends from Interstate 690 eastbound to West Street south and West Genesee Street east and west. West Street ends one mile to the south at Onondaga Street. Photo taken 05/09/05. Exits 11 and 12 partition above the Interstate 690 mainline for West Street south to the OnCenter and West Genesee Street to the Syracuse Central Business District. Photo taken 05/09/05. A tri-level stack interchange facilitates the movements between Interstate 690 and West Street at Exit 11. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 makes its final approach to the confluence with Interstate 81 and Exit 13 off-ramp to Cortland and Binghamton. The two freeways wrap through downtown, directly paralleling one another for a short stretch. Photo taken 05/09/05. Both Interstates 81 and 690 elevate on viaducts over New York 5 (Erie Boulevard), U.S. 11 (North State Street), and other downtown area surface streets. Pictured here is the Interstate 81 freeway and its slip ramp onto Interstate 690 east. A short slip ramp joins Interstate 81 south from Interstate 690 ahead of the Harrison Street off-ramp. Photo taken 05/09/05. Looking at the Interstate 81 sign bridge for the Interstate 690 eastbound slip ramp. Interstate 81 continues south of Interstate 690 to Harrison Street (Exit 18) and the Syracuse University campus. Photo taken 05/09/05. Peering south from the Interstate 690 eastbound viaduct at part of the downtown Syracuse skyline. The 1928-built State Tower dominates the cityscape in the foreground; the Chase Tower and others lie along the background. Photo taken 05/09/05. Travelers enter Interstate 690 east from Interstate 81 south opposite the Exit 13 ramp departure. Interstate 81 turns south from here to the Skytop neighborhood of the city. From here its a 32 mile drive south to Cortland and 72 miles to Binghamton. Photo taken 05/09/05. The Interstate 690 mainline represents the highest level of the interchange confluence of the two freeways. Pictured here is the freeway mainline and the adjacent Interstate 81 overhead for Exit 18 (Harrison and Adams Street). Photo taken 05/09/05. Continuing through the Interstate 690 & 81 confluence, a flyover ramp carries westbound travelers onto Interstate 81 south. Additionally an on-ramp joins Interstate 690 east from North McBride Street below. Photo taken 05/09/05. Crossing over Lodi Street on Interstate 690 eastbound. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 quickly encounters the Teal Avenue (Exit 14) diamond interchange east of Lodi Street. Teal Avenue continues Columbus Avenue north from New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) to New York 298 (Court Street) in east Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 passes over Beech Street ahead of the Exit 14 off-ramp to Teal Avenue. Photo taken 05/09/05. Eastbound at the Exit 14 ramp departure to Teall Avenue. Teall Avenue meets Interstate 690 between Erie Boulevard (New York 5) and Burnet Avenue. Burnet Avenue parallels the freeway closely from U.S. 11 (State Street) east to New York 635 (Thompson Road). Photo taken 05/09/05. Midler Avenue interchanges with Interstate 690 at Exit 15 in east Syracuse. Midler Avenue travels south from New Court Avenue to Erie Boulevard at Seeley Road. Photo taken 05/09/05. A look at the Exit 15 ramp departure to Midler Avenue. Midler Avenue entails New York 598 between New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) and New York 298 (Court Street). Photo taken 05/09/05. A full cloverleaf interchange joins Interstate 690 with New York 536 (Thompson Road) at Exit 16. New York 635 heads north from nearby New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) 2.25 miles to New York 298 (Carrier Parkway). Photo taken 05/09/05. Exits 16S/N serves New York 635 (Thompson Road) and Exit 17 joins Interstate 690 with Bridge Street and Exit 17. A collector/distributor roadway facilitates the movements between the two interchanges and the freeway mainline. Photo taken 05/09/05. Interstate 690 defaults into the interchange with Interstate 481 east of the Exit 16-17 complex. New York 635 ends nearby at junction New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) near Lemoyne College. Bridge Street intersects New York 5 at Orrick Road near Shoppingtown Mall. Photo taken 05/09/05. Six lanes of Interstate 690 travel through the Exit 16 and 17 interchanges between Syracuse and junction Interstate 481. Interests to the community of East Syracuse should use either New York 635 (Thompson Road) or Bridge Street north. DeWitt, another Syracuse suburb, lies east along New York 5 (Erie Boulevard). Photo taken 05/09/05. Exit 16S departs Interstate 690 eastbound for New York 635 (Thompson Road) for junction New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) and Lemoyne College. Photo taken 05/09/05. A loop ramp carries Interstate 690 eastbound travelers onto Exit 6N for New York 635 (Thompson Road) north. Thompson Road intersects Burnet Avenue and New York 290 (James Street) near East Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. The c/d roadway returns to Interstate 690 eastbound ahead of the directional interchange with Interstate 481. Bridge Street itself ventures between New York 5 (Erie Boulevard) and Manilius Center Road (New York 290). New York 290 follows Bridge Street from Manilius Center Road west to Manilius Street in East Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. Four lanes of Interstate 690 eastbound ascend over Bridge Street ahead of its split into ramps for north and southbound Interstate 481. Photo taken 05/09/05. The final Interstate 690 eastbound reassurance marker resides just east of the Bridge Street under crossing. Photo taken 05/09/05. The Interstate 690 eastbound mainline defaults onto Interstate 481 southbound for DeWitt and south Syracuse. The left-hand lane defaults onto Interstate 481 northbound for the New York Thruway interchange three miles away and North Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. Motorists divide between the north and southbound ramps to Interstate 481. Interstate 481 provides a eastern bypass of Syracuse between southern reaches of the city near Nedrow and the city of North Syracuse. Interstate 481 also provides a direct interchange with Interstate 90 (Exit 8) while also serving the eastern suburbs of DeWitt and East Syracuse. Photo taken 05/09/05. An end shield for Interstate 690 lies at the partition of traffic to Interstate 481 north and south. Photo taken 05/09/05. A closed off-ramp stems east from Interstate 690 to Butternut Drive. It is unclear as to the use of this ramp as it is never opened for public use. Photo taken 05/09/05. Sources: Froggie's Thoughts on Syracuse, Froehlig, Adam. Our History, SyracuseThenAndNow.net. Page Updated March 28, 2006.