Poughkeepsie—New York City; State 55, Eastern State Parkway, Bronx River Parkway Extension, Saw Mill River Parkway, 73.8 m.
Four-lane concrete; dangerous after snowfall until sanded.
40-mile speed limit strictly enforced.
The Eastern State Parkway, open (1940) as far north as Freedom Plains, east of Poughkeepsie, connects with the Saw Mill River Parkway and the Bronx River Parkway to provide a scenic boulevard route into New York City, by-passing or over-passing all towns and crossroads through the heavily traveled area north of the metropolis. The carefully landscaped route rides the wooded hills of the eastern part of the State through several State parks.
State 55 runs east from POUGHKEEPSIE, 0 m. (175 alt., 40,237 pop.) (see Poughkeepsie), to FREEDOM PLAINS, 7.9 m. (340 alt., 84 pop.). Right here on the Eastern State Parkway, which has two separate two-lane highways, one northbound, the other southbound.
At 23.9 m. is the junction with State 301.
Right on State 301 to the CLARENCE FAHNESTOCK MEMORIAL STATE PARK (picnicking; parking 25¢), 0.7 m., 3,400 acres of forest land, much of which was untrodden wilderness until the Parkway was opened.
At 37.3 m. the Eastern State Parkway runs into the Bronx River Parkway Extension.
Right here on the Bronx River Parkway Extension to PEEKSKILL, 1.9 m. (120 alt., 17,289 pop.) (see Tour 4), junction with US 6 (see Tour 4) and US 9 (see Tour 21).
The NEW CROTON RESERVOIR, crossed on a bridge at 41.9 m., is the southernmost part of the Croton water system (see Tour 21).
At the HAWTHORNE TRAFFIC CIRCLE, 51.6 m., is the junction with the Saw Mill River Parkway, most convenient approach to the West Side, Manhattan. The main route follows the Saw Mill River Parkway.
The Bronx River Parkway Extension, continuing south, runs into the Bronx River Parkway, oldest unit in the Westchester County Parkway system, at the traffic circle, 3.5 m. At 6 m. is (R) the WESTCHESTER COUNTY COMMUNITY CENTER in WHITE PLAINS (467 alt., 40,116 pop.) (see Tour 20). At 15 m. the Parkway under-passes the CROSS COUNTY PARKWAY (see Tour 1). The BRONX RIVER PARKWAY ends at Fordham Road, the Bronx, 21.5 m. Right on Fordham Road to the GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE, 24.5 m.
On the Saw Mill River Parkway, a traffic circle, 65.7 m., marks the junction with the Cross County Parkway (see Tour 1). At 67.6 m. the Parkway joins the Henry Hudson Parkway, which crosses the HENRY HUDSON BRIDGE (toll 10¢) over the Spuyten Duyvil Creek at 70.7 m. At 73.8 m. is the entrance to the GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL BRIDGE (R). The WEST SIDE ELEVATED HIGHWAY continues to the downtown area and to the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels.