N.Y. Highway Law Section 199
Widening highways

  • petition
When any part of a highway in any town of this state, not in an incorporated village or city, running between two or more villages or cities, has, because of the wearing away by a river or stream or any other natural cause, become narrower than the width required by statute, and is dangerous to the users of such highway, twelve or more resident taxpayers of such town may present a petition to the supreme court in the judicial district within which such town is situated. The petition shall describe the part of the highway proposed to be widened and state that such highway has become lessened in width by the action of a river or stream or other cause, that it is dangerous to the traveling public, that the widening and improvement of such highway is necessary for the public convenience and welfare, that the highway is an important leading road between two or more cities or villages, that the cost of such widening and improvement would exceed the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars and would be too burdensome on the town or towns otherwise liable therefor. Such petition shall be verified by at least three of the petitioners. On receipt of the petition by supreme court the court shall appoint a time and place for a meeting to hear all persons interested in the proposed widening of the highway. The court shall examine the part of the highway proposed to be widened, hear any reasons for or against such widening and ascertain the probable cost of the work. If the court shall determine that the proposed widening of the highway is necessary and that the cost thereof would be too burdensome for the town, exceeding in probable cost two thousand five hundred dollars, they shall notify the board of supervisors of the county of such decision. The board of supervisors shall thereupon cause one-half of the amount of the estimated cost to be raised by the county and paid to the supervisor of the town or towns in which that part of the highway proposed to be widened as aforesaid is located, and said supervisor shall apply the sum so received by him towards the payment of the cost of such widening. The balance of the expense shall be raised in the manner provided by law, by the town or towns in which that part of the highway proposed to be widened as aforesaid is located.

Source: Section 199 — Widening highways; petition, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/HAY/199 (updated Sep. 22, 2014; accessed Jan. 31, 2026).

170
Survey for the laying out of a highway 171
Highways by dedication 172
Application 173
Petition for acquisition 177
Damages in certain cases 180
Limitations upon laying out highways 181
Laying out highways through burying-grounds 182
Costs 184
When officers of different towns disagree about highway 185
Difference about improvements 186
Highway in two or more towns 187
Laying out, dividing and maintaining highway upon town line, or wholly in one town but adjacent to another town 188
Final determination, how carried out 189
Highways by use 190
Fences to be removed 191
Highways or roads along division lines 192
Adjournments 193
Contracts for the construction of town highways 194
Construction or improvement of town highways by county and town 195
County aid for construction, improvement and maintenance of town highways 196
County aid for connecting highway through villages 197
Damages for change of grade 198
Interest on damages for change of grade 199
Widening highways 203
Widening, how constructed 204
Actions to compel widening 205
Highways abandoned 205–A
Seasonal limited use highway 205–B
Qualified abandonment of certain town highways 205–C
Minimum maintenance roads 206
Highways in lands acquired by the United States for fortification purposes deemed abandoned 207
Discontinuance of highway 208
Description to be recorded 209
Damages caused by discontinuance 210
Papers, where filed 211
Costs of motion 211–A
Abandonment of certain town highways 211–B
Abandonment of certain town highways in school districts 212
Changing location of highways over certain lands owned and occupied by the state 212–A
Abandoning of parts of town highways 213
Construction and repair of approaches to private lands 214
Depositing ashes, snow, ice, stones, sticks, et cetera upon the highway 216
When town not liable for damages 218
Storm water sewers in town highways
Green check means up to date. Up to date

Verified:
Jan. 31, 2026

Last modified:
Sep. 22, 2014

§ 199. Widening highways's source at nysenate​.gov

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