UN General Assembly traffic guide: Manhattan street closures

The United Nations General Assembly, which runs through Sept. 30, will snarl traffic in the area due to stepped up security. Photo Credit: Charles Eckert

Attention motorists: It’s that time of year again, the General Assembly of the United Nations kicked off Sept. 17 and runs through Sept. 30.

As dignitaries from around the world converge on the city, various streets in midtown and on the east side will be closed to accommodate travel around the United Nations building, located at 405 E. 42nd St.

Each day will feel like a new puzzle for drivers in Manhattan. But don’t fret, here is your cheat sheet for avoiding the traffic nightmare.

Thursday

Police barricades block access near the United Nations General Assembly. Photo Credit: John Roca

These streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles throughout the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets

The tunnel underpass from 41st to 48th streets will remain open to passenger cars. Trucks and large vehicles will be prohibited until the end of each day’s UNGA session.

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

These streets will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at 5 a.m.:

42nd Street from the FDR Drive to Second Avenue

Exit and entrance ramps of the FDR Drive at 42nd Street

Note: These areas will reopen each evening after the end of each day’s UNGA session.

FDR Drive will be subject to intermittent closures by the NYPD:

Southbound at 63rd Street

Northbound at South Ferry

Access to the following streets will be managed by the NYPD and no parking will 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

54th Street from Sixth to Seventh 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

Friday

These streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles throughout the General Assembly:

42nd Street from First to Fifth avenues

57th Street from Second to Fifth avenues

Second Avenue from 41st to 57th streets

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic:

First Avenue from 42nd to 48th streets

The tunnel underpass from 41st to 48th streets will remain open to passenger cars. Trucks and large vehicles will be prohibited until the end of each day’s UNGA session.

44th Street from First to Second avenues

45th Street from First to Second avenues

46th Street from First to Second avenues

These streets will be closed to vehicle traffic starting at 5 a.m.:

42nd Street from the FDR Drive to Second Avenue

Exit and entrance ramps of the FDR Drive at 42nd Street

Note: These areas will reopen each evening after the end of each day’s UNGA session.

Access to the following streets will be managed by the NYPD and no parking will 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

54th Street from Sixth to Seventh 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

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