New Year's Eve Drivers Beware; Street Closures Abound

If you’re heading to Times Square for the New Year’s Eve celebration, you should leave your car at home. But if you insist on taking it, here are some street closures you need to know about.

The New York City Police Department has announced street closures and parking restrictions that are expected to cause traffic delays. The use of public transportation is highly recommended.

Beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Times Square will be closed to vehicle traffic. Attendees will be directed by police officers to gather in separate viewing sections. When one section fills up, people will be directed to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers will continue to fill Times Square along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to Central Park.

Some key items of note:

• Backpacks and large bags prohibited
• Alcohol beverages prohibited
• Property may not be abandoned at checkpoints
• Attendees who leave before the ball drops will not be able to gain entry to their original viewing area

There will be no parking in the following areas from Wednesday at 12 a.m. until 1 a.m. on Thursday:

• All cross-town streets from 33rd to 59th Street between 6th and 8th Avenue;
• West side of 5th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
• West side of 6th Avenue, from 34th to 59th Streets;
• East side of 6th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
• East side of 8th Avenue from 34th to 57th Streets;
• 48th Street between 5th and Ninth Avenues;
• 43rd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 42nd Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 37th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 34th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 48th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 52nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 58th Street between 6th and 8th Avenue;
• 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle.

At about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:

• Seventh Avenue, from 41st to 59th Streets;
• Broadway, from 41st to 59th Streets;
• 43rd to 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue.
• Beginning at 5 p.m. Wednesday, 42nd Street from 6th to Eight Avenue will closed to traffic.
• After 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, the remainder of the traffic closures will be instituted as crowd conditions warrant:
• All cross-town streets from 37th to 41st Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
• All cross-town streets from 49th to 59th Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
• 48th Street, from Fifth to Ninth Avenues;
• Cross-town access for emergency vehicles will be available on 42nd, 48th, and 59th Streets.

People are strongly advised to use public transportation. On street parking will be extremely limited in the Midtown area. People should avoid all cross-town streets from 34th to 59th Streets, as well as Sixth and Eighth avenues.

The NYPD will continue its drunken driving enforcement on New Year's Eve through DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the City. The NYPD made 10,517 drunken driving arrests this year, and as part of the DWI Forfeiture Initiative, seized 2,109 vehicles from drunk drivers so far in 2008.

TRANSIT INFORMATION

Beginning at 7 p.m. Wednesday, some subway access around Times Square will be closed. The following subway system changes should be noted:
Southbound and northbound N/R/W lines will skip the 49th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Thursday, January 1st.
The northbound IRT “#1” train will skip the 50th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday until approximately 12:15 a.m. Thursday.