 The north – south roadway connecting NY 5 in Amherst to the Lake Ontario shoreline in Olcott via Lockport was originally designated as NY 32 in the mid @-@ 1920s . In the 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York , NY 32 became part of NY 78 , a new route extending from Gainesville in the south to Olcott in the north , mostly along existing but previously unnumbered roads . However , the portion between NY 362 and NY 19 was in the process of being built . NY 78 's early routing was identical to its modern alignment except from East Aurora to Depew . Initially , NY 78 headed north from East Aurora to Lancaster by way of Maple Street , Jamison and Bowen roads , and Clinton ( NY 354 ) and Aurora streets before following NY 35 west to Transit Road in Depew . 
