State Route 343 (New York−Connecticut)

New York State Route 343 and
Connecticut Route 343
NY 343 and Route 343 highlighted in red and NY 980G in blue
Route information
Maintained by NYSDOT and ConnDOT
Length19.95 mi (32.11 km)
NY 343: 18.45 mi; Route 343: 1.50 mi
HistoryNY 343 assigned 1930
Route 343 assigned 1932
Major junctions
West end NY 82 in Millbrook, NY
Major intersections US 44 / NY 22 in Amenia, NY
East end Route 4 / Route 41 in Sharon, CT
Location
CountryUnited States
StatesNew York, Connecticut
CountiesNY: Dutchess
CT: Litchfield
Highway system
  • Connecticut State Highway System
NY 342NY NY 344
Route 341CT Route 349

New York State Route 343 (NY 343) is a state highway located entirely within central Dutchess County, in the Hudson Valley region of the U.S. state of New York. It runs east–west from the intersection of NY 82 in the village of Millbrook to the town of Amenia, where it crosses the Connecticut state line and continues eastward as Route 343, a Connecticut state highway located entirely within the town of Sharon. Along the way, it has a 7.3-mile (11.7 km) concurrency with NY 22 from vicinity of the hamlet of Dover Plains to the hamlet of Amenia.

The entirety of modern Route 343 was originally the Dover branch of the Dutchess Turnpike. The turnpike, which was in operation from the early to the mid-19th century, was a major transportation route at the time, connecting several local communities to Litchfield County, Connecticut, and the city of Poughkeepsie. NY 343 was designated in 1930, connecting the hamlet of Amenia to the state line, but was relocated a few years later onto the portion of New York State Route 200 from South Millbrook to the hamlet of Dover Plains. The NY 200 designation was rerouted east of Millbrook on NY 343's original alignment. NY 343 absorbed NY 200 in the early 1940s, creating an overlap with NY 22 between Dover Plains and Amenia. The Connecticut portion of the highway was originally designated as part of Route 4; it was renumbered to Route 343 in 1932.

Several landmarks along the way include the Silo Ridge Country Club in the hamlet of Wassaic, Beekman Park in the hamlet of Amenia, and the Troutbeck Conference Center in the hamlet of Leedsville. When NY 343 crosses the state line, it becomes Connecticut's Route 343 and passes through more rural and residential areas. Route 343 stretches for 1.50 miles (2.41 km) into the town of Sharon, Connecticut, where it terminates at a junction with Route 4 and Route 41.