Eastbound on NY 23-just past the Jefferson Heights JN,
heading toward US 9W

The US 9W junction.
This is signed as if it is a freeway junction on NY 23.
It's not, Traffic turns to and from the US 9W slip roads.

Crossing over US 9W on NY 23.
Here's the left turn for North US 9W,
and the pull-through for NY 23.
The shield on the right is for the Rip Van Winkle Bridge.
This is the northernmost NYS Bridge Authority bridge.

The Rip Van Winkle Toll Plaza.
This is vintage 2k3-all new.
I went thru while it was being built-
didn't get snaps. Sorry.
The confirmation signals are all-LED.

Approaching the Truss(western) section of the bridge.
like the Mid-Hudson Bridge-it's posted for 25 MPH.

In the truss section here.

Now the “Open” section of the bridge.
This is posted at 40 MPH.
The Rip Van Winkle is the only bridge with a split speed limit like that.

The NY 9G junction is a highly channelized “T” junction:
There is a separate roadway for each movement,
controlled by STOP and YIELD signs. It works well-
Though the westbound bridge approach merge is a bit ugly
It's a rare lit junction, and has a grooved concrete surface.

The eastbound turn for NY 23B north to Hudson.
Note that the original turn lane was longer,
but was painted off.
Not as channelized as the junction before,
but works well using STOP signs on NY 23B.

An Ugly Hudson four-way.
Coming in on 3^rd Street, you encounter 4 of these.
They're synced in pairs,
so you never get a clear shot to the turn of NY 23B
at Columbia Street.

The Green Street/Fairview Avenue signal mess.
There are single lights for each junction direction.
Green Street is east-west(NY 23B), US 9 turns north on Fairview Avenue.
Green Street's signals are on the left(offside) of the junction.

This Alusig 12" takes care of the WB-green/SB-Fairview movements.
Note that the Fairview(left-facing) light WAS an inline-5;
The bottom face has a sign mounted over it.

But it gets better.
This GE 8" signal is the compliment to the Alusig above.
MUTCD violation-orama, this.
The left indication is a “normal” green light,
Right and Thru movements allowed.
The green ball means the above, plus you can turn left-
The movement is protected with this light on.
No sign explains that, though...

A view the Alusig(the big snap shows more).

Likwise for the GE signal.

A real nice Econolite “Bullseye” beacon
at Columbia Street, Prospect Street, and Columbia Turnpike.
This is the only Econolite “Bullseye” -anything- I've seen in this area.

Beacon weirdness at Union and 7^th in Hudson.
the big snap shows all.
The mast looks to be a combination of a railway rail and piping.
The “guy” is actually fabricated from pipe.
Union Ave has 3 faces: 2 red(Top-middle; middle functional) and one green.
7^th Ave has a two-face signal with a red and a green.

Another 7^th Avenue light with plumb elevators.

A rare Pedestal light(on the wrong side of the junction)
that is associated with the above signal.
The big snap has a Hudson Parking Sign showing the City's whale symbol.

Southbound on NY 9H east of Hudson.

Columbia County signs with large arched name
at NY 9H and Columbia County Highway 18(Fish and Game Road).
Only Columbia County does this with signs in this area.
This also a fairly new signal. A needed one, too.

Now back on NY 23 East, approaching the NY 217 junction.

Climbing the grade on NY 23 eastbound,
Between the two Columbia County Hwy 16 junctions.
This bypasses Hollowville, CH 16 is old NY 23 and runs to the south.

NY 23 in Columbia County-heading to the Taconic Parkway.

And here we are, on the Taconic, Northbound!

The Taconic has been subject to some upgrading-
Bringing this section up to more modern standards.
It already started there-as it is newer than the southern bits.

Old button-copy sign for NY 217.
This is the east end of that highway, incidentally.

Note the drainage grates in the travelled way here.
What looks like a wave in the road is actually an unposted U-turn.
There is a parking area behind us,
and this allows southbound traffic to return to that direction.
If they know about it :P

A nice Picture-Postcardy shot of the Parkway, this.

There are still level junctions on this section.
Here's one now. This is Rigor Hill Road.
There's a restaurant and service station to the east.
There are no turning lanes,
but at least you have a wide reservation
so you can catch a breath between crossings.

More picture postcard action.
Note the better sightlines and reinforced verges.
The speed limit signs say SPEED LIMIT(no STATE) and the 55 is patched on.
I suspect this was once posted at 65.
70 would be reasonable on this section.

Another nice view approaching NY 203.

The NY 203 junction, with overpass.

The last off-slip northbound-pass this and yr Thruway bound!
Southbound, you get two NY 295 junctions,
Here you can see part of that bit.

A nasty bit of hardware, this.
It's a good idea, but a bit more sensitivity to the parkway style would be in order, IMHO.
Per region 1 Practice,
the Thruway blazer is shown on the guide sign.

The on-slip from Rock City Road joins at the right.
This is north of the Taconic END shot on my NY 295 page

It's all over for sure now, here's the toll plaza.
Note the EZ-Pass sign. I always have a laugh at that.

And now, whatddaya want? Albany or Boston?

You get Albany. It's *MY* page. NERR!
You're now westbound on the Berkshire Spur
(“extension”, really but it's MY page again, so NERR!
The level of maturity here is astounding.)

The Albany Turnpike overpass.

IH 90 leaves for Albany here.
There is a redundant gantry down the road.
To get to US 9, though, you have to leave at JN 12 on the IH 90.

Crossing the Hudson on the Berkshire Spur.
That railway bridge to the left is pretty cool, too.
Note the lack of a barrier in the reservation.
The speed limit is 65 just the same.

Redundant Gantries here again-not a bad idea, I think.
This is the western end of the Berkshire Spur.
There are more snaps of this area Here.

This is a great huge loop ramp to IH 87 South
from the Berkshire Spur. Of course, this is NY
so you get “Sharp Bend” rather than any sort of indication this is a loop.
The advisory speed is a bit overcautious.
I took this ramp at 40 in the Tempoo,
You could prolly take it at speed in a real car.

Roadworks near Junction 21 on the Thruway, Southbound.
Two bridges are being redecked.