Several streets in midtown will be closed Wednesday afternoon as organizers prepare for the annual Rockefeller Center tree lighting ceremony, police say.
The following streets will be subject to closure from 3 p.m. until the conclusion of the event: West 48th, West 49th, West 50th, and West 51st streets between Sixth and Madison avenues; West 47th Street between Fifth and Madison avenues; and West 52nd Street between Fifth and Madison avenues.
• West 48th to West 51st streets between Sixth and Madison avenues.
• West 47th Street between Fifth and Madison avenues.
• West 52nd Street between Fifth and Madison avenues.
And from Thursday until Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2018, the following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on weekdays from 5 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, and from 1 p.m. to midnight on weekends.
• West 49th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
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• West 50th Street between Fifth and Sixth avenues.
Closure times on the streets will be subject to pedestrian traffic. It's the first time the NYPD has closed streets around the tree for an extended period.
Police say that because of heavy traffic, drivers should also avoid the areas around Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall from 3 p.m. to midnight.
Pedestrians and spectators are urged to use mass transit to get to Rockefeller Center for the tree lighting festivities.
Due to increased security this year, all attendees must pass through a security screening prior to entering the tree-lighting area. Umbrellas, large coolers, alcoholic beverages, backpacks and large bags are prohibited from the event, which attracts tens of thousands of people every year.
The festivities begin at 7 p.m. and will air on NBC 4 New York.
