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U.N. General Assembly Will Also Doom Manhattan Traffic

By

Jen Chung

Published Sep 19, 2015

Modified Sep 19, 2015

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The traffic at a UNGA in 2000

 

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By

Jen Chung

Published Sep 19, 2015

Modified Sep 19, 2015

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It's not enough that Pope Francis is coming next week to wreak Holy Terror on drivers in New York City—he'll also be visiting the United Nations General Assembly. Oh, yes—it's that time of year when the NYPD shuts down Midtown East streets.

Here's the press release from the NYPD— note "The use of public transportation for the duration of the General Assembly is highly encouraged" and that the Holy Father will be at the U.N. on the morning of Friday, September 25:

NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES STREET CLOSURES AND EXPECTED TRAFFIC DELAYS RELATING TO THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The New York City Police Department today announced street closures and anticipated traffic delays relating to the United Nations General Assembly. The United Nations is located at 1st Avenue and 42nd Street. The use of public transportation for the duration of the General Assembly is highly encouraged.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 22nd, 2015

Beginning at approximately 10 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will 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
• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2015

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 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 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd 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
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 2015

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 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 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
• 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

On Thursday the FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:
• Southbound at 63rd Street
• Northbound at South Ferry

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2015

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 48th Street will remain open for 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

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2015

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 48th 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

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th, 2015

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 48th 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

On Sunday the FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:
• Southbound at 63rd Street
• Northbound at South Ferry

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Sunday include:
• 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue
• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

The following streets will be completely closed to traffic beginning Sunday, September 28th at 10 a.m. until approximately 10 p.m. Tuesday, September 29th :
· 49th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
· 50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:
• Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street
· Madison Avenue 48th Street to 52nd Street

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 28th, 2015

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 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars but will be subject to intermittent closures. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 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
• 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Monday include:
• 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue
• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:
• Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street
· Madison Avenue 48th Street to 52nd Street

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29th, 2015

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 41 st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars but will be subject to intermittent closures. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 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
• 42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session

Additional intermittent closures to vehicular traffic for Monday include:
• 50th Street from Park Avenue to 1st Avenue
• 1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 50th Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access:
• Park Avenue from 48th Street to 52nd Street
· Madison Avenue 48th Street to 52nd Street

On Tuesday the FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:
• Southbound at 63rd Street
• Northbound at South Ferry

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30th, 2015

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 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 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd 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
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1st, 2015

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 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 41 st 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 each day’s session.
• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd 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
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, 2015

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 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 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day’s session.
• 44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
• 46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd 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
Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day’s session.

And, FWIW, the 70th UNGA has already started but "general debate" isn't until next week.

Tagged

gridlock

pope francis

traffic

UNGA

united nations

Jen Chung

Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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