How-to
What to Do If You Break Down on Buffalo's I-190
In Buffalo, every mile of the I-190 is the Niagara Thruway. On the Thruway, only its authorized garages can change a tire, boost a battery, bring fuel or tow you. So if you break down there, call 911 for an emergency, or call the Thruway's garage line at 1-800-842-2233. If the car can limp to the next exit, take it. Once you're on a city street, any roadside help can reach you, including us.
Is my part of the I-190 really the Thruway?
Yes, if you're anywhere in Buffalo. The Niagara Thruway starts where the I-190 leaves the main Thruway (I-90) at exit 53. It runs north to exit 21, the Buffalo Avenue exit in Niagara Falls. Only past that point does the road turn into the Niagara Expressway.
So the South Buffalo stretch, the downtown run between KeyBank Center and Sahlen Field, and the drive along the Niagara River are all Thruway. It may not feel like the Thruway out your window. The rules still apply.
Which Buffalo exit am I near?
Your exit number is the fastest way to say where you are. Here are the Buffalo exits from the Thruway's own list, with its mileposts. Mile 0 is the I-90 end.
| Exit | Street | Mile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Ogden St, Dingens St | 0.70 |
| 2 | Bailey Ave, Clinton St | 1.40 |
| 3 | Seneca St (no northbound exit) | 2.41 |
| 4 | Smith St, Fillmore Ave | 3.14 |
| 5 | Hamburg St, Louisiana St | 3.95 |
| 6 | Elm St | 4.65 |
| 7 | Buffalo Skyway (NY 5), Church St | 5.20 |
| 8 | Niagara St | 5.86 |
| 9 | Porter Ave, Peace Bridge | 6.58 |
| 11 | Scajaquada Expressway (NY 198) | 8.69 |
| 12 | Amherst St (no southbound exit) | 9.06 |
| 13 | Austin St (no southbound exit) | 9.27 |
| 14 | Ontario St, Vulcan St | 10.27 |
| 15 | Sheridan Dr, Kenmore Ave | 12.36 |
| 16 | I-290 East (the Youngmann) | 13.33 |
There is no exit 10, so don't wait for one. And note the one-way exits. Heading south, you can't get off at Austin or Amherst Street. Heading north, you can't get off at Seneca Street.
What should I do the second the car starts to fail?
Most breakdowns give you a warning. A shake, a warning light, a tire that starts to thump. Use those seconds well.
- Turn on your flashers. The Thruway asks for this first.
- Aim for the next exit. The Thruway says to get well off the road or to the next exit if you can. On a flat, rolling slowly to the ramp beats stopping by a live lane.
- If you can't make it, get all the way onto the shoulder. Never stop in a travel lane.
- Tie something white to the left door handle or the antenna. That is the Thruway's signal that you need help.
- Stay with the car. The Thruway says not to walk along it. Buckled in with the doors locked is usually the safest place, away from traffic.
If anyone is hurt, or the car is stuck in a lane, call 911 right away. Don't wait on anyone else.
Who do I call on the I-190?
That depends on what's wrong.
- A crash, an injury, smoke, or a car blocking a lane: call 911.
- A flat, a dead battery or an empty tank: call 1-800-842-2233. The Thruway's authorized garages handle those small fixes on the road.
- A car that won't run at all: call the same number. Towing and big repairs go to authorized garages off the Thruway.
The Thruway sets a standard roadside service charge that holds around the clock. Labor and parts cost extra. Tows are priced by the hookup plus the miles towed. To hear the current rates before you agree, call the Thruway at 518-436-3079.
We can't send a partner onto the I-190. That rule is the Thruway's, and we follow it.
How do I tell them exactly where I am?
Downtown Buffalo stacks roads on top of each other. The Skyway, the 190 and the city streets all meet near Church Street. "I'm on the 190 by the arena" can mean three places. Give these four things instead:
- The road: the I-190, also called the Niagara Thruway.
- Your direction: north toward Niagara Falls, or south toward the I-90.
- The last exit you passed, and the next one coming up.
- Something you can see: the Peace Bridge, the river, KeyBank Center, a ramp sign.
Your phone's map can show your exact spot. Read the cross street off it if one shows.
When can Sentinel help near the I-190?
The moment you're off it. Say the engine dies at the bottom of the Elm Street ramp. Or you coast off at Porter Avenue with a flat and stop on a side street. You're on a city street now, not the Thruway. A flat tire change puts your spare on right there. A jump start fixes a weak battery. If you slid off a ramp into the snow and the car still runs, a winch-out pulls you back onto the pavement.
It also works the other way. Parked downtown for a game and the car won't start? That's a city lot, so we can help. See our Buffalo towing page for the rest of the city's roads.
Sentinel Towing is a towing and roadside network, not a tow company. A vetted local partner tow company does the work. We text you a locked price first, then stay with you by text until your driver arrives. That's our Stay-With-You Promise.
What changes when lake-effect snow hits the 190?
Buffalo's snowiest months are December and January, by NOAA's normals. The road along the lake and river catches bands of snow off Lake Erie. The Weather Service says one band can drop 2 to 3 inches an hour or more. A mile or two away, the sun may be out. You can leave a dry downtown and hit a whiteout by the Peace Bridge.
A wait on the shoulder feels much longer in that. So get ready before the first band:
- Keep the tank near full. The Weather Service says it helps stop ice in the tank and fuel lines. It also keeps your heat going while you wait.
- Pack a winter kit: phone charger, blankets, flashlight, first-aid kit, snacks, water, dry clothes, a shovel, a scraper and brush, booster cables, and sand or cat litter for grip.
- Check 511NY before you leave. It's the state's official road and closure map.
If a storm shuts things down and you're stuck, call 911 first. Trucks get stuck in those storms too, so rescue comes first.
Do other drivers have to slow down for me?
They do. New York's move over law, Vehicle and Traffic Law 1144-a, covers any car stopped on the shoulder of a highway like the I-190. Drivers must take care around you. It also covers tow trucks with amber lights. On these roads, drivers must move out of the lane next to the shoulder when it's safe. Still, never count on it. Stay in the car, away from the traffic side.
Stuck right now? Call 1-888-TOW-1213, or request help online.
Buffalo I-190 Breakdown Questions
Can I call any tow truck I want on the I-190 in Buffalo?
No. The I-190 through Buffalo is the Niagara Thruway. Only the Thruway's authorized garages can service or tow cars on it. Call 1-800-842-2233 to reach one, or 911 in an emergency.
My car made it off the exit and died on a side street. Who do I call?
Once you're on a city street, the Thruway rule no longer applies. You can call us. Tell us the street and nearest cross street, and we text you a price before anyone is sent.
Should I walk to the next exit for help?
No. The Thruway says not to walk along it, and to stay with your car. Put your flashers on and tie something white to the left door handle. Call for help from inside the car.
How do I find out what the Thruway garage will charge?
Call the Thruway at 518-436-3079 to hear its rates. It uses a standard roadside service charge, plus labor and parts. Tows are priced by the hookup and the miles towed.
Rules change, so check the official source before you rely on it. Sources: Thruway roadside help, Thruway exit list, NWS lake-effect snow, NWS winter prep, NOAA climate normals, 511NY, NY VTL 1144-a.
