MIDTOWN — Thousands are expected to gather in Times Square to celebrate the New Year and watch the famous ball drop on Wednesday’s evening, bringing many street closures to the area, police said.
Times Square will be closed to traffic from 3 p.m. until the end of the celebration. Police will direct party-goers to the different viewing sections, which will run from 43rd Street to Central Park along Broadway and Seventh Avenue.
Backpacks, large bags and alcohol will be banned from the site, authorities said, adding there will be additional DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the city.
People who leave before the ball drops will not be able to come back to their original viewing spot, police said.
The NYPD said on Tuesday that every officer who graduated on Monday would be assigned to Times Square for the event, and that details are set up in case of any protests at the event.
"People have an absolute right to protest,” NYPD Chief of Department James O’Neill said at a press conference on Tuesday.
Many streets will be closed, so drivers should expect traffic delays and people should use public transportation as much as possible.
The street closures will begin at 4 a.m. on Dec. 31 starting with these blocks, which will be shut down to all vehicle traffic:
► Seventh Avenue, between 43rd and 48th streets
► Broadway, between 47th and 48th streets
► 46rd and 47th Streets, between Sixth and Eighth avenues
At about 1:30 p.m. on Dec. 31, these streets will be closed all vehicles:
► Seventh Avenue, between 41st and 59th streets
► Broadway, between 47th and 59th streets
► 43rd to 47th Streets, between Sixth and Eighth avenues
At 5 p.m., 42nd Street from Sixth Avenue to Eight Avenue will also be closed to traffic.
Finally, after 6:30 p.m., these additional streets will be closed to cars:
► All cross-town streets from 37th Street to 41st Street, between Sixth and Eighth avenues
► All cross-town streets from 49th Street to 59th Street, between Sixth and Eighth avenues
► 48th Street, from Fifth Avenue to Ninth Avenue
Crosstown access for emergency vehicles will be available on 42nd, 48th and 59th streets, officials said.
On-street parking will be extremely limited in Midtown, police said.
There will be no parking allowed from Dec. 31 at 12:01 a.m. until Jan. 1 at 1 a.m. in the following areas:
► All crosstown streets between 33rd and 59th streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues
► West side of Fifth Avenue, between 37th and 52nd streets
► West side of Sixth Avenue, between 34th and 59th streets
► East side of Sixth Avenue, between 37th and 52nd streets
► East side of Eighth Avenue, between 34th and 57th streets
► 34th, 42nd and 48th streets, between Fifth and Ninth avenues
► 37th, 43rd and 52nd streets, between Fifth and Eighth avenues
► 58th Street between Sixth and Eighth avenues
► 59th Street between Fifth Avenue and Columbus Circle
— With additional reporting by Nicholas Rizzi.
