On Monday, November 29, a new 2004 holiday season traffic plan for midtown Manhattan begins. "Thru Traffic Only" express lanes will be established on both 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue in the vicinity of Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. This initiative is designed to ease traffic congestion and is scheduled to run from November 29, 2004 to January 2, 2005.

The center lane of 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue will be designated as express lanes for thru traffic only and will be distinguished from regular traffic lanes by the placement of highly visible lane markers. Express vehicles and local traffic will both benefit from this plan by reducing lane changes and merging traffic.

Vehicles will enter the express lane at 57th Street on 5th Avenue and will not be permitted to exit until 47th Street. On 6th Avenue, vehicles will enter at 48th Street and cannot exit until 53rd Street. Vehicles may enter the express lanes at any cross-town intersection if sufficient room exists. A police officer will be assigned to each intersection to help facilitate the plan.