Editing Interstate 678 (section)

==Route description==
[[File:2024-06-19 11 57 20 View north along Interstate 678 (Van Wyck Expressway) from the overpass for the rail line at Archer Avenue in Queens, New York City, New York.jpg|thumb|left|I-678 in [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]] as seen from the [[Long Island Rail Road]] tracks]]
I-678 begins at [[JFK Airport]] in the borough of [[Queens]] and proceeds along the stretch of highway known as the Van Wyck Expressway. I-678 progresses westward through the airport, crossing under airport taxiways as a six-lane freeway. Just after the taxiways, the expressway connects with North Service Road, which services the airport's western services. From there, the expressway begins to turn northward and crosses the [[United Airlines]] hangar. I-678 continues its northwestern path, curving to the northeast at the interchange with Federal Circle. From there, the highway continues northward, becoming a divided highway and meeting [[New York State Route 878|NY&nbsp;878]] (the Nassau Expressway) at exit&nbsp;1E. I-678 continues northward to the [[Kennedy Airport Interchange]], where it crosses under the Nassau Expressway and over [[New York State Route 27|NY&nbsp;27]] east (South [[Conduit Avenue]]) and the [[Belt Parkway]], and then over NY&nbsp;27 west (North Conduit Avenue) at exit&nbsp;1B.<ref name="bing" /><ref name="google">{{google maps |url = https://www.google.com/maps/place/I-678,+New+York,+NY/@40.7348317,-73.8714185,13z |title = Overview Map of I-678 |access-date = January 6, 2017 }}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite web |title=Compact NYSDOT Highway Record Plans: Beginning 1900 |url=https://data.ny.gov/Transportation/Compact-NYSDOT-Highway-Record-Plans-Beginning-1900/6bx3-2s36 |access-date=2023-12-01 |website=State of New York |language=en}}</ref> At this point the highway exits the facility of JFK Airport and maintenance switches to the [[New York State Department of Transportation]].<ref name=":6"/>

North of North Conduit Avenue, [[AirTrain JFK]]'s elevated [[people mover]] structure begins to run above the expressway's median, and the Van Wyck descends to an [[Cut (earthworks)|open-cut]] structure.<ref name=AirTrain-EIS/> At this point, I-678 gains [[service road]]s on either side, connecting to local streets. I-678 continues northward along the Van Wyck Expressway through Queens, interchanging with [[Rockaway Boulevard]], [[Linden Boulevard]], [[Liberty Avenue (New York City)|Liberty Avenue]], and [[Atlantic Avenue (New York City)|Atlantic Avenue]] at exits&nbsp;2 through 5, respectively. Just south of Atlantic Avenue, the AirTrain structure diverges to the east.<ref name="AirTrain-EIS">{{cite book |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=l_g0AQAAMAAJ |title = JFK International Airport Light Rail System: Environmental Impact Statement |author1 = Federal Aviation Administration |author-link = Federal Aviation Administration |author2 = New York State Department of Transportation |year = 1997 |volume = 1 |location = Washington, DC |publisher = Federal Aviation Administration |page = 1.12 |access-date = August 26, 2017 |via = [[Google Books]] }}</ref> After entering [[Jamaica, Queens|Jamaica]], the Van Wyck crosses under a complex, two-level [[Long Island Rail Road]] structure with 13&nbsp;tracks.<ref name="bing">{{Bing maps |title = Overview Map of Interstate 678 |access-date = July 14, 2010 |url = http://www.bing.com/maps/#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 }}</ref><ref name=google/>

Continuing northward, the expressway passes [[Jamaica Hospital Medical Center]] and intersects Jamaica Avenue at exit&nbsp;6. I-678 expands to eight lanes as it crosses under Hillside Avenue ([[New York State Route 25B|NY&nbsp;25B]]), which is serviced by exit&nbsp;7 in the southbound direction. A short distance later, the highway approaches a large interchange with [[New York State Route 25|NY&nbsp;25]] ([[Queens Boulevard]]) and [[Main Street (Queens)|Main Street]] at exits&nbsp;8–9. After crossing under Hoover Avenue, I-678 enters the [[Kew Gardens Interchange]], a complex interchange with traffic from five directions. I-678 crosses on overpasses over [[Union Turnpike (New York)|Union Turnpike]], the [[Grand Central Parkway]], the [[Jackie Robinson Parkway]], and different interchange ramps before returning at-grade in [[Flushing, Queens|Flushing]]. There, the highway turns northwestward once again, interchanging with Jewel Avenue via Park Drive East at exit&nbsp;11. Crossing through [[Flushing Meadows–Corona Park]], I-678 continues northward until exit&nbsp;12, where there are ramps to College Point Boulevard and the westbound [[Long Island Expressway]] (I-495). After the interchange with the Long Island Expressway, the Van Wyck continues northeastward. A short distance later, the expressway crosses under [[Roosevelt Avenue]] and the [[IRT Flushing Line]] ({{NYCS trains|Flushing}}) of the [[New York City Subway]]. After crossing Roosevelt Avenue, I-678 passes [[Citi Field]] to the west, then intersects [[New York State Route 25A|NY&nbsp;25A]] (Northern Boulevard) and the Whitestone Expressway at the Flushing River Interchange, via exit&nbsp;13.<ref name=":6" /> At this point, I-678 transitions onto the Whitestone Expressway.<ref name="bing" /><ref name=google/><ref name=":6" />

[[File:2024-06-18 11 30 11 View north along Interstate 678 (Hutchinson River Parkway Bronx-Whitestone Bridge Approach) from the overpass for Lafayette Avenue in the Bronx, New York City, New York.jpg|thumb|I-678 northbound approaching the [[Bruckner Interchange]]]]

The Whitestone Expressway continues northward into [[College Point, Queens|College Point]], where the service roads resume. I-678 passes over Linden Place, served by exit&nbsp;14, and continues northeastward past the distribution center of ''[[The New York Times]]'' to the west. Shortly afterward, I-678's service roads intersect with 20th Avenue in [[Whitestone, Queens|Whitestone]], and there are ramps to and from the service roads at exit&nbsp;15. I-678 passes under 14th Avenue a short distance to the north. Just after 14th Avenue, the lefthand lanes of both directions diverge to exit&nbsp;16, which continues onto [[Cross Island Parkway]] via a left exit. The service roads end at this point.<ref name="bing" /><ref name=google/>

After the interchange with Cross Island Parkway, the Whitestone Expressway turns to the northwest as a six-lane expressway that passes through Whitestone. After exit&nbsp;17, which serves 3rd Avenue, the expressway passes over Francis Lewis Park and begins its approach onto the [[Bronx–Whitestone Bridge|Whitestone Bridge]] over the [[East River]]. The highway leaves Queens and enters [[the Bronx]] along the bridge.<ref name="bing" /><ref name=google/> The bridge descends to ground level and I-678 passes through an [[open-road toll]] gantry,<ref name=google/> which is located at the former site of a tollbooth.<ref>{{cite news |last = Castillo |first = Alfonso A. |title = Cashless Tolling Arrives at All MTA Bridges |website = Newsday |date = October 2, 2017 |url = https://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/open-road-tolling-closes-gate-on-era-at-nyc-area-crossings-1.14311902 |access-date = February 16, 2018 |archive-date = February 17, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180217084232/https://www.newsday.com/long-island/transportation/open-road-tolling-closes-gate-on-era-at-nyc-area-crossings-1.14311902 |url-status = live }}</ref> Afterward, the expressway intersects Lafayette Avenue. North of Lafayette Avenue is the [[Bruckner Interchange]], where I-678's designation ends and the highway continues northward as the [[Hutchinson River Parkway]].<ref name="bing" /><ref name=google/>