You’ve probably driven it–Route 17, winding through the Hudson Valley and the Catskills, but big changes are coming to this familiar stretch of highway.
New York State is in the process of upgrading Route 17 to federal interstate standards, part of a decades-long effort to rebrand the corridor as Interstate 86 (I-86). Some of that work is already underway around Monticello with even more proposals on the table, but not everyone is on board. While the state touts improved travel and connectivity, local advocates warn the billion-dollar project could come at the cost of environmental sustainability, community needs, and smarter investments.
“Older Than I Am”: A Project With Deep Roots
“This plan has been going on for a while — it’s actually older than I am, oddly enough,” joked Liam Mayo, news editor at The River Reporter, who has been covering the story in detail. “The federal legislation that is underpinning all of this comes from 1998. It was called the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century, and it designated Route 17 as a priority upgrade for inclusion in the National Highway System.”
Since then, upgrades have slowly progressed from west to east. Much of the western portion of the corridor has already been converted. As Mayo explained, “I-86 currently stretches all the way from the western end of the state up to Binghamton. And it’s the bit from Binghamton onwards that still needs to be upgraded.”
That remaining stretch includes the portion of Route 17 from Exit 113 to Exit 131, which runs through the Catskills and Hudson Valley. “While proposals are still being worked out,” Mayo said, “one of the more likely ones is adding a third lane, or expanding that stretch of highway.” That project alone is expected to cost more than $1 billion.
Monticello Upgrades and Public Input
Closer to home, the NYS Department of Transportation is in the early stages of planning upgrades to Exits 103, 104, and 107 in Monticello.
“These are proposals that are just kind of introducing to the public — at the very early stages of getting public input,” said Mayo. “There was a public display session on Monday, July 28, where the DOT had very preliminary proposals for what Exit 107 could look like. But those could still change as public input comes in. They weren’t even at that stage for Exits 103 and 104 — it was entirely just an announcement.”
Mayo noted that these proposed upgrades may resemble the redesign of Exit 105, which was rebuilt with a modern roundabout a few years ago as part of the broader I-86 upgrade.
Why Now?
When asked why the project is picking up momentum now, Mayo said the answer may be simpler than it seems: “I assume that it’s just that they’ve been working their way east from the western end of the state. If they upgrade this section from 113 to 131, that knocks out another huge chunk of it.”
He added, “By the end of the decade, we could see just only a very little left to do to upgrade the entire corridor. But transportation projects take a very long time, and this is a very ambitious one. A lot has happened in the past 30 years that delayed sections or made them take longer than originally suggested.”
Advocates Say: Rethink Route 17
Environmental and community groups are pushing back — and asking the state to hit the brakes. Catskill Mountainkeeper is leading a coalition called Rethink Route 17, which is urging officials to consider different uses for the massive investment.
“One of their main arguments,” said Mayo, “is that over a billion dollars of investment into the transportation of the Hudson Valley and the Catskills — you could spend that money a lot of other ways instead of just on Route 17 improvements.”
According to data cited by the coalition — and sourced from NYSDOT — Route 17 is uncongested 95.8% of the time, and the full upgrade would reduce travel times by only about three minutes and six seconds.
“They’re saying that the improvements would have very marginal benefits for the average traveler,” said Mayo. “On the other hand, if you spent that money on more local things, you could get a much bigger bang for your buck.”
Suggestions from the coalition include fixing potholes, investing in local roads and downtowns, supporting small businesses, and developing alternative transportation infrastructure like trails, buses, and bikeways.
How to Get Involved
NYSDOT is currently seeking public input on the Route 17 upgrades. Residents can submit feedback via the state’s project website —
route17.dot.ny.gov — or by mail at
44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901.
Advocacy groups like
Catskill Mountainkeeper are also encouraging public participation. Their coalition website,
rethinkroute17.org, includes ways to get involved and learn more.
“You can also send comments in by mail or go through those websites,” Mayo noted. “And we include those links in our story as well at The River Reporter.”
Competing Visions for the Future
What happens next will depend not just on engineers and agencies — but on the voices of residents across the Hudson Valley and Catskills. Whether Route 17 becomes a faster, wider highway or a case study in reimagining rural transportation, the decisions made in the coming years will shape the region’s roads — and communities — for decades.
For more detailed maps and project updates, read Liam Mayo’s full story:
“Competing visions presented for Route 17 upgrades”
📍 Available now at:
riverreporter.comImage Credit: Office of Governor Kathy Hochul
I agree about the work on 17b. I’ve been traveling that road from Brooklyn for 15 years, the traffic from Middletown exit 120 to 104 is minimal and the new exchange at 105 feels like an accident about to happen. I’m familiar with the turnabout but if you aren’t it’s very confusing.
Roads, roads, roads, that’s the only public service that’s provided in the Bethel area, very little police force, no garbage pickup, no city water, poor town planning.
The Casino, even Bethel Woods, seem to diminish every year (though fireworks this year were fantastic). I’d rather see clean water and air protected, arts promoted, and the local airport serve the public.
The focus on highways seems unbalanced. I’ve often wondered what are they building this for? Who are they building this for?
The new exchange at 105 must have cost a fortune. “:An accident waiting to happen” is a perfect description of what we ended up with. Can someone explain to me how the new interchange is better than what we had before?
The new exchange at 105 is ridiculous. Wasn’t needed, doesn’t help flow, unbelievable waste of money. Nobody asked locals.
Exit 107 works fine. In forty years, I’ve never experienced a backup.
Repairing deplorably dilapidated roads is the answer. Bulldozers, no. Asphalt and concrete, yes.