I'm kicking myself for missing this sign because I came through late at night - twice. As seen from Albany CR 353, this is the southern beginning of NY 85 courtesy John Krakoff. The header of the sign is misleading, as NY 85 only goes to the left. Not to mention the entire sign is mostly ceremonial, given that NY 85 does not span from Washington to Montreal. Next time I'm heading to Albany, you know I'll be back here a third time.


The first EB shield on the route is so old it doesn't reflect light. The county shield isn't any newer but it does.


If not, Jonathan will find you. EB entering Slingerlands.


Why 03" and not 3"? I guess when you've already done the sign up in flashing LED's, there's no sense in correcting such a small error. These are again EB, from the same photo in fact.


Three-digit shields should have humps proportional to those on the two-digit shields.


The Slingerlands Bypass ends (westbound) at New Scotland Road, after transforming from a four-lane freeway to a two-lane expressway (first photo) with at-grade intersections and enough room for expansion (second photo). Beyond the dead-end Maher Road, where NY 85 turns sharp left (third photo) to T at New Scotland, is a clearing in the woods (fourth photo) for the continuation of the expressway (if not eventually a full freeway). Since Slingerlands is to the west of the end of the Bypass for it, one should probably assume the extension isn't dead yet - in fact, as you'll see below, it has been bastardized to a collection of roundabouts. However, it still doesn't Bypass Slingerlands - it's the Bypass to Slingerlands (apparently).


The new roundabouts in 2008. Notice that Maher Rd., the dead end I showed you above, now gets its own shields. Maher Rd. EB, not yet open, can be seen in the fourth photo, looking southward barely one block to New Scotland Rd. This is the location of the former sharp left I referred to in the previous caption.


More of the scratchy shield syndrome at the eastern end of NY 85 and the Bypass freeway.

NY 85/NY 443 duplex photos on the 443 page

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