Most of NY 31E parallels the Erie Canal, and parts of the route run adjacent to the waterway.

The spur route was eliminated in 1921, and the road went unnumbered until 1930 renumbering of state highways in New York when it became part of NY 3.

NY 31E runs past undeveloped land to the north and a smattering of homes to the south on its way into the Orleans County town of Shelby New York|Ridgeway]].

[3] East of the county line, NY 31E becomes Telegraph Road and continues across increasingly less developed areas of Ridgeway.

The Erie Canal is visible from most of this section of NY 31E, and about 1 mile (1.6 km) of the highway runs directly alongside the waterway, which curves several times between Middleport and Medina.

The two separate at the small hamlet of Shelby Basin, where the route follows a more southerly alignment into a more populated area.

Not far to the east is the village of Medina, where NY 31E changes names to West Center Street.

The route heads east across the residential western half of the village, passing Prospect Avenue (former NY 63) on its way into Medina's business district.