Interstate 87 Highway in Albany — Web Camera Online Traffic

I-87 Northway — History and Significance of the Highway

Interstate 87 in New York State is not just a road but an entire transportation system connecting the metropolis in the south with the Canadian border in the north. North of Albany, the highway follows the route of Adirondack Northway — the highway was built in stages from 1957 to 1967 and was completed just in time for the Montreal World's Fair. The total length of the highway is 333.49 miles (536.70 km), and it runs entirely within New York State, connecting New York City and Montreal.

Northway is the main transportation artery of the Capital Region, carrying tens of thousands of vehicles daily. The highway serves both commuter passenger traffic and freight transport moving between the state's industrial centers. The entrance to Albany via I-87 is the gateway to the state capital, and traffic here never stops.

Exit 23 — Interchange Infrastructure

Exit 23 on I-87 is a key node in Albany's transportation network. The Albany-Downtown interchange is located here, where I-787 begins. The southern terminus of I-787 is at the New York State Thruway (I-87) Exit 23 toll plaza. This is where the flow of vehicles from the north splits: some head into downtown Albany via I-787, while others continue on the Thruway.

The I-87/I-787 corridor infrastructure requires constant investment. NYSDOT invested $118.5 million over 5 years in maintaining this corridor's infrastructure to extend the facility's service life. The funds went toward pavement repair, bridge structures, and drainage systems.

The interchange is designed as a directional cloverleaf: NY 7 runs west from the I-787 interchange to I-87 (Adirondack Northway). This configuration minimizes crossing traffic and maintains high capacity during peak hours.

Traffic Flow and Volume

The capacity of I-87 in the Albany area is limited by several factors. The main one is the number of lanes and the configuration of bridge crossings. In 2017, the New York State Department of Transportation estimated traffic across the Tadeusz Kościuszko Bridge at 104,666 vehicles daily. This figure includes both passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers.

Freight transport accounts for a significant share of traffic on I-87. Tractor-trailers and trucks move between the state's industrial zones and toward the Canadian border. For passenger car drivers, this creates certain difficulties: trucks occupy the right lanes and slow the overall flow when climbing bridges.

Traffic jams at the entrance to Albany on I-87 are a regular occurrence. The morning rush hour is formed by commuter traffic heading to the city center. In the evening, the reverse flow is added — Albany residents return home to the suburbs. Weekends bring seasonal fluctuations: in summer, traffic increases due to tourists heading to the Adirondacks.

The landscape along I-87 at Exit 23 is typical of Albany's suburbs. To the left of the highway, a large multi-story building is visible — office or government type — with an adjacent parking lot. Such buildings are characteristic of the South Mall Expressway corridor, where New York State agencies are concentrated.

Around the highway are green lawns, trees, and forested areas. In the distance, hills and wooded landscape are visible, characteristic of the Adirondack foothills. Nature here remains untouched despite the proximity of a major city. The Normans Kill River flows nearby, creating a natural boundary between neighborhoods.

The infrastructure along the highway includes drainage systems, noise barriers, and lighting at the exits. Parking lots at office buildings fill up by the start of the workday and empty by evening — this is clearly visible when observing the surroundings.

Adjacent Highways and Transportation Links

I-87 does not exist in isolation — it is woven into the dense transportation network of the Capital Region. In Albany, the highway has a concurrency with I-90 for approximately half a mile. I-90 branches off from the main Thruway line at Exit 24 and crosses the Hudson River via the Patroon Island Bridge toward Rensselaer County.

I-787 is another key highway beginning at Exit 23. It crosses the Hudson River via the Collar City Bridge (built in 1981), connecting downtown Albany with the city of Troy. Exit 3A from southbound I-787 leads to the Dunn Memorial Bridge across the Hudson to Rensselaer.

The Tadeusz Kościuszko Bridge (Twin Bridges) is a pair of identical steel arch bridges across the Mohawk River between Colonie (Albany County) and Halfmoon (Saratoga County). The bridge is named after Andrzej Tadeusz Bonawentura Kościuszko (1746–1817) — a Polish military engineer. This is a critical infrastructure element connecting the northern and southern counties of the region.

Typical Traffic Patterns at the Albany Entrance

Traffic on I-87 at Exit 23 follows predictable patterns. On weekday mornings, the rush hour starts early — a flow of cars from the suburbs heads toward downtown Albany. The main load falls on the left lanes leading to the I-787 exit and the city center.

The evening rush hour is more spread out over time. First comes the outflow from the center, then the commuter flow. Trucks often accumulate in the right lanes, creating local congestion on inclines. On weekends, the pattern changes: morning traffic is lighter, but it picks up during the day due to tourist flow toward the Adirondacks.

Weather conditions have a significant impact on traffic. In winter, snowfall reduces average speed and increases the distance between vehicles. In summer, roadwork on the highway narrows lanes and creates bottlenecks. During such periods, the I-87 web camera becomes a particularly useful tool for trip planning.

What's Visible on the Camera

The camera is installed on northbound I-87 at Exit 23 — this is the approach to the city of Albany. The frame shows a multi-lane highway with active vehicle traffic: passenger cars and trucks, including tractor-trailers. To the left of the highway is a large multi-story office or government building with an adjacent parking lot.

Around the highway are green lawns, trees, and forested areas. In the distance, hills and wooded landscape are visible, characteristic of the Adirondack foothills. In the upper left corner of the image is a text overlay indicating the highway and exit number. The camera allows you to assess current road conditions, traffic volume, and the presence of freight vehicles at the entrance to Albany.