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Read the press release here.

How to Get Around on New Year's Eve, Despite Subway and Street Closures

By Jess Wisloski | December 31, 2012 11:57am | Updated on December 31, 2012 5:28pm

MIDTOWN — Major parking and driving restrictions will shut down streets throughout Midtown Monday in preparation for the annual Times Square New Year's Eve gathering — virtually locking down access to the area after 1:30 p.m.

The MTA is shutting down stations along the 1, N, R, and W train lines from 7 p.m. Monday until after the the ball drops at 12:15 a.m. Tuesday. And streets inside the zone of Fifth to Eighth Avenues between 34th and 57th streets will be locked down for parking or driving after 1:30 p.m. Monday.

Officials are urging those in the area to take mass transit and to be aware that backpacks and large bags are not allowed in the cordoned areas.

Attendees will be gated into separate viewing sections, and once one section fills up, people will be directed to the next viewing section, filling Times Square along Broadway and Seventh Avenue, and moving north towards Central Park.

Alcohol is prohibited inside the checkpoints, and people will not be allowed back inside the gated areas once they leave, police said.

SUBWAY STATION CLOSURES

► All N, R, W lines will skip Manhattan's 49th Street station starting from 7 p.m. onwards.

► Northbound 1 trains will skip the 50th Street station from 7 p.m. onwards.  

NO-PARKING STREETS

The following streets were closed to parking starting at midnight Sunday:

► All crosstown streets between Sixth and Eighth avenues, from W. 33rd Street to W. 59th Street

► West side of Fifth Avenue from W. 37th to W. 52nd streets

► West side of Sixth Avenue from W. 34th to W. 59th streets

► East side of Sixth Avenue from W. 37th to W. 52nd streets

► East side of Eighth Avenue from W. 34th to W. 57th streets

►  W. 34th, W. 42nd, and W. 48th streets between Fifth and Ninth avenues

►  W. 37th, W. 43rd, W. 52nd, and W. 59th streets between Fifth and Eighth avenues

► W. 58th Street between Sixth and Eighth avenues

WHERE NOT TO DRIVE

Starting at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Times Square will be closed to vehicular traffic, and serious delays are expected in the roadways surrounding the area. Other streets will close after either 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. as crowds fill the area.

The closed off streets to drivers include: 

► Seventh Avenue from W. 41st to W. 59th streets

► Broadway from W. 47th to W. 59th streets

► Sixth through Eighth avenues from W. 43rd to W. 47th streets (at 5 p.m. W. 42nd will close)

► From 6:30 p.m. closures crosstown between Sixth and Eighth avenues from W. 37th to W. 41st streets and W.  49th to W.59th streets will occur.

►  W. 48th Street from Fifth to Ninth avenues is expected to close after 6:30 p.m.

► Emergency vehicles only will be allowed on W. 42nd, W. 48th and W. 59th streets.