New York State Route 17K - Route Description - West of Newburgh

West of Newburgh

NY 17K's western terminus is at an intersection with CR 76 (the old, two-lane alignment of NY 17 through the area) in the town of Wallkill. The junction is just east of the Orange–Sullivan county line, marked by a bridge carrying old NY 17 over the Shawangunk Kill and into the center of Bloomingburg. From there, NY 17K meets the modern NY 17 at an interchange with the Quickway before heading roughly eastward into the town of Crawford. It going up and down some gentle hills to the first traffic light, the six-way intersection with NY 302 (also the Long Path hiking trail) that serves as downtown Bullville. The direction of the highway remains unchanged as it continues past several horse farms and Winding Hills Park on its way to the town of Montgomery.

Shortly after crossing the flood-prone Muddy Kill, it reaches Ward's Bridge, where it crosses the Wallkill River and enters the village of Montgomery on Bridge Street, where it immediately passes the historic homes that line the street. The portion within the village is rather short, although consequential enough to include the traffic light at the northern end of NY 211 (Union Street). For the next two blocks, to Wallkill Avenue, the highway marks the northern boundary of Montgomery's other federally-designated historic district, Academy Hill. Just before the village's eastern boundary, it passes between two more Registered Historic Places, the Patchett House and Montgomery Water Works.

After the village, it passes the combined building of Valley Central High School and Valley Central Middle School. The growing population of the area has added more traffic to the highway in recent years, forcing the school board to increase the stagger between the two schools' schedule, and hiring a police officer to direct traffic at the entrance. About 1 mile (1.6 km) to the east lies Scotts Corners, NY 17K's intersection with NY 208. Just past the intersection, the headquarters of Walden Federal bank sit atop a hill on the north side of the road. Shortly afterward, Berea Elementary School adds its traffic to the nearby intersection.

Past the elementary school, NY 17K runs parallel to the nearby I-84 but remains undeveloped, with the odd house, store or side street breaking the woods. Much of the land here is owned by the county as part of its Farmers' Museum, which surrounds the Nathaniel Hill Brick House, an early settler's home still occupied by his descendants. The next signalized intersection, Coldenham Road, provides a direct route to Walden for traffic coming from the east. NY 17K continues on toward its next light, situated at the junction with NY 747, a north–south route connecting NY 17K to I-84 and Stewart International Airport.