In 1919, the state of New York awarded a contract to improve the 1.6 mile portion of Van Rensselaer Boulevard north of the Albany city limits to state highway standards. The project cost $33,796 to complete (equivalent to $570,445 in 2023), and the rebuilt road was added to the state highway system on November 11, 1919, as State Highway 1518. It did not have a posted route number until the mid-1930s when SH 1518 became part of NY 377, a new route continuing south to the intersection of Northern Boulevard and Loudonville Road in Albany by way of city-owned streets.[2][3] The alignment of NY 377 has not changed since that time; however, the junction at the south end of the route was reconfigured into an interchange when the portion of US 9 in northern Albany was converted into a limited-access highway in the 1970s.
Van Rensselaer Boulevard got a makeover in 2017, reducing the number of lanes and making more room for bicyclists and pedestrians. The four-lane road was revamped to one lane in each direction with a center turning lane. Shoulders were widened to give pedestrians more room, and dedicated bicycle lanes was created. Neighbors had raised concerns the road, with its 55 mph speed limit and lack of sidewalks, had been the scene of frequent accidents, at least two of which were fatal and multiple near misses.
The cache is listed as being Winter Friendly, but snow plowing could bury it. Also, the traffic along Van Rensselaer Blvd. is often busy, so use caution.
CONGRATULATIONS TO LCSM FOR FIRST TIME FIND!