Sullivan County NY 55, Ulster County US 44

The ride on the way back from the Roebling Aqueduct.

	NY 55-Sullivan County 11 heading north out of Barryville.
	A little farther north on the SC 12 section north of Eldred.
	In the main, Sullivan County roads are at least decent. Though directional signage could be better.
	We’re up to Sullivan County 13 at the meeting with NY 17B. This is at White Lake, near Smallwood.
	New route signs with a full size “B” for NY 17B. This is not a trend, though- since NY 17M down the road also has new markers; the “M” is about 85% of the number height, as usual.
	That’s White Lake to the left. The direction is east on NY 17B.
	Another shot a bit up the road. White Lake is a popular summer resort, a lot of people have second homes in the area.
	Climbing the hill to the eastern junction with NY 55.
	That ULTRA POWER station is a good place to get soup. NY 55 turns north again ahead to go to Liberty. It’s still a county road-Sullivan County 14 here.
	Same junction from the opposite direction in August. This is now an Historic snap cos all these sines were replaced recently. Note the new posts in front of the directional sine.
	Heading north again, and approaching the Sullivan County 141 junction. That’s the road going straight ahead in the distance.
	Passing by a bungalow colony just north of Kauneoga Lake. On NY 55. This is a Chasidic Colony- there are a lot of those in this area.
	Here’s what the building looks like.
	This is a pretty fast and straight section of the road. At least as any state highway in the area, and better than some.
	Junction with Sullivan County Route 183- Leading to Sullivan County International Airport. All subsequent signage north of there will include NY 17 trailblazers.
	Another look at the highway in general. The road coming in on the right is an old alignment.
	Same area, southbound in August 2k6.
	Coming into Swan Lake.
	North of Swan Lake, specifically the junction with County Route 142; NY 55’s companion number changes to Sullivan County Route 15.
	The beacon ahead marks the junction with Ferndale Road- County Highway 71, and a shortcut to NY 17; As well as a means of bypassing the Village of Liberty.
	The reason why I would want to avoid the Village is that NY 52 and NY 55 have been under heavy construction. Sewer replacement. It's all nice here now, it was a nightmare last summer. This is Main and Mill Streets in Liberty. Main leaves to the right ahead.
	As you can see, it’s not quite done yet. NY 52 and NY 55(Sullivan County 16) separate here. The signal is temporary until the works are done. It will be replaced by a setup with standard aluminum masts.
	This part of the rebuild is complete- The center turn lane is new.
	And here’s Liberty’s new roundabout, This shuffles traffic leaving NY 17 at j101 eastbound; NY 55 traffic, and Willow Lane and by extension; Main Street East.
	This Interstate 86 sign isn’t supposed to be here, yet. This used to be four lanes through here.
	This is barely complete, and already, some moran has mowed down the EXIT gore sine for the NY 52 east to NY 17 east slip road.
	In the last picture, there was a central island. That's new. There was a central island on this bridge. Inexplicably, it was removed in the process of rehabilitating the junction. No lanes were added.
	On Sullivan County 175 near the j101 offslip- a bit east of the above snap, and on the west side of the freeway.
	NY 17 overpass of County 175. The big yellow sine indicates a crawler lane is ending on the freeway.
	On Sullivan County 71-immediately after turning off of County 75, at the j101 eastbound slip roads. A hard right would put you on NY 17. The new “Bethel Woods” sine is for the cultural center constructed on the old 1969 Woodstock Concert site(much to the dismay of olde hippies and goddam hippie wannabes), an attempt to part cash from those who might think that gamblin’ is gauche.
	Back on US 44 eastbound- rolling through the Shawangunk Ridge/Minnewaska area. There is a lot of interesting stuff along this route, which really won’t be done justice until I go through on foot. The first two snaps are repeated westbound, below.
	Going downhill on the east side is a bit more dramatic. The first snap is a layby that’s a popular stop for climbers and hikers. So popular that it has parking restrictions. Now it’s more a staging area. The other 3 snaps run through the hairpin bend on US 44. I’ve been through this more times than I like to think about. There is another hairpin bend west of Amenia-making a total of two on the route.
	For contrast, here are some shots of the westbound downgrade, taken in August. Two of the snaps are roughly reverse shots of the two pictures just below the Bethel Woods sine shot.
	We’re totally out of the hills on NY 299(Ulster Co. 8) and approaching the Wallkill River Floodplain.
	Approaching the Springtown Road junction on NY 299. Ulster County Road 7 is concurrent with NY 299 here; but turns with Springtown Road ahead.
	Approaching the NY 32-NY 208 junction in the Village of New Paltz.