U.N. General Assembly Means Diplomats, Gridlock

Starting Sunday, traffic will be massively re-routed around Midtown as the United Nations General Assembly gets under way -- running for two weeks.  By all accounts, it's a traffic nightmare in Midtown, and NYPD has released this rather long series of traffic modifications.

The NYPD recommends that New Yorkers use public transporation to get around and to expect street closures and traffic delays for the duration of the General Assembly.

For the first week of the United Nations General Assembly, the following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

  • 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.
  • 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

  • 42nd  Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • 57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • 2nd  Avenue  from 42nd Street to 57th Street

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

  • 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue
  • The 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive
  • These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Friday beginning at 7 a.m. include:

  • 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue
  • 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:30 p.m.

  • West 81st Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue

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

  • Columbus Avenue from West 86th  Street to West 77th  Street

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

  • 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access.
  • 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

  • 42nd  Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • 57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • 2nd  Avenue  from 41st Street to 57th Street

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

  • 42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue
  • The 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive
  • These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Friday beginning at 7 a.m. include:

  • 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue
  • 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

On Friday the FDR DRIVE will subject to intermittent closures:

  • Southbound at 63rd Street
  • Northbound at South Ferry
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