Street Closures, Traffic Changes for Pope Francis NYC Visit

Dozens of traffic changes and street closures are being implemented for Pope Francis' historic visit to New York City. Authorities encourage all New Yorkers and visitors to rely on mass transportation.

Here is a breakdown of some of the key traffic changes and street closures:

THURSDAY, SEPT. 24

Beginning around midnight, the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 9 p.m.:

  • 50th Street from Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • 51st Street from Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue

Beginning around 3 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until 6 a.m.:

  • Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street
  • 48th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 50th Street from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue (will remained closed until about 9 p.m.)
  • 51st Street from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue (will remained closed until about 9 p.m.)
  • 52nd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue

[NATL] Francis' Papacy in Photos

Beginning around 6 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be re-opened to vehicular traffic until 10 a.m.:

  • Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street
  • 48th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 52nd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue

Crosstown traffic will be reduced to one lane of traffic

Beginning around 10 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 9 p.m.:

  • Fifth Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street
  • 48th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 50th Street from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
  • 51st Street from Fifth Avenue to Sixth Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
  • 52nd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Avenue to Sixth Avenue

Beginning at about 2 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 9 p.m.:

  • Madison Avenue from 47th Street to 57th Street

The FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

  • Southbound at 63rd Street
  • Northbound at South Ferry

Beginning at about 8 a.m. the following street in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until Saturday around 10 a.m.

  • 72nd Street from Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue

Beginning at about 3 p.m. the following street in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until Sept. 26 at about 10 a.m.

  • 71st Street from Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue

Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access Madison Avenue from 69th Street to 74th Street while Pope Francis is in residence.

Additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence include:

  • Fifth Avenue from 74th Street to 71st Street
  • 70th Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • 71st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
  • 72nd Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
  • 73rd Street from Madison Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • Madison Ave. from 69th Street to 73rd Street -- two western lanes closed

Beginning around 10 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 6 a.m.:

  • 71st Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • 72nd Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • 73rd Street from Park Avenue to Fifth Avenue
  • Madison Avenue from 70th Street to 73rd Street

Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

  • Fifth Avenue from 74th Street to 71st Street
  • Madison Avenue from 69th Street to 74th Street

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to vehicular traffic:

First Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of the day’s session.

  • 43rd Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue
  • 44th Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue
  • 45th Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue
  • 46th Street from First Avenue to Second Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

  • 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue
  • 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

Beginning around midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the 9-11 Memorial will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 1 p.m.:

  • Liberty Street from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street
  • Cedar Street from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street

Beginning around 11 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the 9/11 Memorial will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 1 p.m.:

  • Northbound on West Street from Battery Place to Murray Street

Additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic in the vicinity of the 9/11 Memorial includes:

  • Southbound on West Street from Chambers Street to Albany Street

Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

  • South bound on West Street from Chambers Street to Albany Street

Beginning around midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the Our Lady Queen of Angels School will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 6 p.m.:

  • 112th Street from Second Avenue to Third Avenue
  • 113th Street Cul-de-sac

Starting around 3 p.m. trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

  • Second Avenue between 106th Street to 116th Street
  • Third Avenue between 106th Street to 116th Street

Beginning around midnight the following streets in the vicinity of Central Park will be closed to vehicular traffic until about 7 p.m.:

  • Central Park West between Columbus Circle and West 81st Street
  • W 61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 64th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 65th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 66th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 69th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 73rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
Barriers have been placed, towing has begun and streets will be closed. Andrew Siff previews what you should expect from the visit by Pope Francis.

Beginning around midnight the following streets in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden will be closed to vehicular traffic until about midnight:

  • 31st Street from Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue
  • 33rd Street from Seventh Avenue to Ninth Avenue

Beginning around noon the following streets in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden will have intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic

  • 31st Street from Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue -- managed access
  • 32nd Street from Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue -- managed access
  • 33rd Street from Sixth Avenue to Seventh Avenue -- managed access
  • 7th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street -- two western lanes closed
  • 8th Avenue from 31st Street to 33rd Street – one lane only/intermittent closures

Starting around noon trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:

  • Seventh Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street
  • Eighth Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street

SATURDAY, SEPT. 26

The FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

  • Southbound at 63rd Street
  • Northbound at South Ferry
Barriers have been placed, towing has begun and streets will be closed. Andrew Siff previews what you should expect from the visit by Pope Francis.
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