NEW YORK - Drivers are expressing confusion and frustration after the city changed traffic patterns without notice for the second time in 24 hours on one of Manhattan's busiest streets.

The confusion began Tuesday morning after the city's Transportation Department turned 11th Avenue into a one-way, southbound only street from 57th to 42nd streets.

The city is trying to ease the congestion that often develops leading into the Lincoln Tunnel. 

Many drivers became aware only by new signs prohibiting northbound turns.

But at 8 a.m. on Wednesday some of the no-turn signs came down and northbound traffic was allowed again from 52nd to 57th streets. But below 52nd Street, 11th Avenue remained a one-way street. 

"That's bad because people get confused, they go the wrong way and they get in a big accident," said one driver.

The DOT said it returned 11th Avenue to its normal traffic patterns from 52nd to 57th streets on Wednesday because a large crane had to be positioned in the street to do work on a building.  

NY1 is also told the work will be done in two weeks, and 11th Avenue will again become southbound only from 57th to 42nd streets.