There will be a significant amount of street closures related to the New Year's Eve Celebration in Times Square on Thursday night.
Street closures and parking restrictions are expected to cause traffic delays. The use of public transportation is highly recommended.
Beginning at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, 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.
Backpacks and large bags are prohibited, as well as alcohol beverages. Property may not be abandoned at checkpoints and 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 Thursday, December 31st at 12:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Friday, January 1st:
At approximately 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, 42nd Street from 6th to Eight Avenue will closed to traffic.
After 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, the remainder of the traffic closures will be instituted as crowd conditions warrant:
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 also continue its drunken driving enforcement on New Year's Eve through DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the City.
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, some subway access around Times Square will be closed. The following subway system changes should be noted: