Interstate 87 (I-87) is a 333.49-mile-long north–south interstate located entirely within the US state of New York. It is the main highway connecting NYC and Montreal. It starts at Exit 47 off of I-278 in the Bronx and from there, it runs north through the Hudson Valley, the Capital District and the easternmost part of the north country to the Canadian Border.
I-87 was assigned in 1957 as part of the establishment of the Interstate Highway System. The portion of I-87 south of Albany follows two controlled access highways that predate the Interstate Highway designation, the Major Deegan Expressway (locally known as “the Deegan”) in New York City and the tolled New York State Thruway from the New York City line to Albany. North of Albany, I-87 follows the Adirondack Northway, a highway built in stages between 1957 and 1967. Early proposals for I-87 called for the route to take a more easterly course through the Hudson Valley and extreme southwestern Connecticut between New York City and Newburgh. These plans were scrapped in 1970 when I-87 was realigned onto the Thruway between Westchester County and Newburgh.
I-87 is a heavily travelled stretch of roadway with its accompanying inevitable accidents and even multi-vehicle pile-ups, some of which prove deadly.
NEWS:
August 24, 2022: At least four people were left fighting for their lives and nine others were injured when a church van flipped over on I-87 in the upper Hudson Valley. At about 9:30 p.m., New York State Police responded to reports of a large passenger van that crashed on the New York State Thruway (I-87) southbound, south of Exit 21B in the town of Athens, Greene County.
September 6, 2022: Tuxedo, New York. Two drivers were killed a fiery wrong-way crash on the New York State Thruway. It occurred at approximately 1:30 a.m. in the southbound lanes between exits 15A and 16 in Tuxedo, where authorities say the vehicles collided head on. One of the vehicles caught fire, and both drivers — the only occupants of the cars — were pronounced dead at the scene. One of the victims was identified as a prominent rabbi, 67-year-old Yehuda Weinstock, of Chester. A funeral drew hundreds of mourners into the street in the pouring rain in Williamsburg early Tuesday afternoon. They walked in silence behind the casket, with many still in shock.
November 15, 2022: Clifton Park, NY: A crash on I-87 caused multiple lane closures in the town of Clifton Park. A crash on I-87 Northway southbound at Exit 8A; CR 91 on Grooms Road in Clifton Park initially caused one right lane of four to close. The closure started at 8:14 a.m. Due to the crash, drivers were dealing with lane closures since on I-87 Northway southbound starting at 8:36 a.m. Those lane closures have since been lifted and traffic getting back to normal.
Apr 17, 2023: Colonie, NY. A crash on I-87 Northway southbound near Exit 7 in Colonie closed two right lanes during the morning commute. The crash was first reported around 8:20 a.m. and backed up traffic significantly. New York State Police confirmed the crash involved three vehicles. Police investigators determined that a dump truck sideswiped a commercial vehicle, causing the dump truck to overturn. The commercial vehicle hauled and struck the rear of a passenger vehicle. The dump truck driver reported a non-life-threatening injury. No one else was injured during the incident. Diesel fuel contained within the dump truck was spilled, causing prolonged lane closures for cleanup.
August 30, 2023: A potentially catastrophic accident was prevented on the Thruway during Wednesday’s evening rush hour, Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan said. A tractor carrying liquid hydrogen caught fire near Exits 23 and 24. The driver quickly pulled over. Firefighters quickly put out the fire before it spread to the trailer carrying the explosive hydrogen.
“The Albany Fire Department showed once again today why they’re the best in the business,” Sheehan wrote on social media. Crews began to reopen closed lanes later that evening. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
If you were involved in an accident on I-87 due to the fault of another and sustained serious injuries as a result, contact the law office of Michael J. Redenburg, Esq. PC at 212-240-9465 today to learn how we can help got the Wheels of Justice spinning for You today!