Each year before the United Nations General Assembly, the Department Of Transportation designates the busiest traffic days as Gridlock Alert Days.
Drivers are encouraged to prepare in advance for street closures along the east side of Manhattan, where the General Assembly will be held.
Drivers should expect travel times in the Midtown area to be up to three times longer than on a typical day of the week.
Here is a complete list of street closures and the times they are expected to close.
Sunday, Sept. 23
The following streets will close at 10 p.m.:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
FDR Drive will be subject to intermittent closures:
- Southbound at 63rd Street
- Northbound at South Ferry
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
Monday, Sept. 24
These streets will remain closed for the day:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:
- 42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues
- 57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues
- Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets
These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.
- 42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue
- 42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue
Tuesday, Sept. 25
These streets will remain closed for the day:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
- 49th Street from Third to Lexington avenues
One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:
- 42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues
- 57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues
- Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets
These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.
- 42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue
- 42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue
- 61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 61st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
Wednesday, Sept. 26
These streets will remain closed for the day:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:
- 42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues
- 57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues
- Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets
These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.
- 42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue
- 42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue
- 61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 61st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
Thursday, Sept. 27
These streets will remain closed for the day:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48 Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:
- 42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues
- 57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues
- Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets
These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.
- 42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue
- 42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive
FDR Drive will be subject to intermittent closures:
- Southbound at 63rd Street
- Northbound at South Ferry
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue
- 61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 61st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
Friday, Sept. 28
These streets will remain closed for the day:
- First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets (the tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open to passenger cars only)
- 44th Street from First to Second avenues
- 45th Street from First to Second avenues
- 46th Street from First to Second avenues
One traffic lane on the following streets will be dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:
- 42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues
- 57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues
- Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets
These streets will be closed between 5 a.m. and about 9 p.m.
- 42nd Street from FDR Drive to Second Avenue
- 42nd Street exit and entrance ramps for FDR Drive
The NYPD will manage access to the following streets and vehicle parking will not be permitted:
- Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place
- First Place from Battery Place to Little West Street
- Little West Street from Battery Place to Second Place
- 50th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 51st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 51st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 55th Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
- 55th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 56th Street from Fifth to Sixth avenues
- 58th Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 58th Street from Plaza to Sixth Avenue
- 61st Street from Lexington to Park avenues
- 61st Street from Park to Madison avenues
- 61st Street from Madison to Fifth avenues
Public transportation is widely available and encouraged to use during the gridlock.
Citi Bike is offering 50 percent off three-day passes from September 24 to October 1, 2018. If you're driving from Queens or Long Island, you can park for $5 at Citi Field and use the 7 train. Via is offering 50 percent off each additional passenger for rides within Manhattan. Use the promo code "GRIDLOCK" from September 24 through October 1 to book and share rides.