The New York City Police Department today announced street closures relating to the New Year’s Eve Celebration in Times Square. Street closures and parking restrictions are expected to cause traffic delays. The use of public transportation is highly recommended.

Beginning at 3:30 p.m. on Monday, December 31^st, Times Square will be closed to vehicle traffic. Attendees will be directed by Police Officers to gather in separate viewing sections. When one section fills up, people will be directed to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers will continue to fill Times Square along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43^rd Street to Central Park. 

• Backpacks and large bags prohibited
• Alcohol beverages prohibited
• Property may not be abandoned at checkpoints
• Attendees who leave before the ball drops will not be able to gain entry to their original viewing area

There will be No Parking in the following areas from Monday, December 31^st at 12:00 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 1^st:

• All cross-town streets from 34^th to 57^th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenue;
• West side of Sixth Avenue, from 34^th to 59^th Streets;
• East side of Eighth Avenue from 34^th to 57^th Streets;
• 48th Street between Fifth and Ninth Avenues.

At approximately 4:00 p.m. on Monday, December 31^st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:

• Seventh Avenue, from 42^nd to 59^th Streets;
• Broadway, from 42^nd to 59^th Streets;
• 43^rd to 47^th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue.

After 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 31^st, the remainder of the traffic closures will be instituted as crowd conditions warrant:

• All cross-town streets from 37^th to 42^nd Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
• All cross-town streets from 49^th to 59^th Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
• 48th Street, from Fifth to Ninth Avenues;
• Cross-town access for emergency vehicles will be available on 42^nd, 48^th, 57^th and 59^th Streets.

People are strongly advised to use public transportation. On street parking will be extremely limited in the Midtown area. People should avoid all cross-town streets from 34th to 59^th Streets, as well as Sixth and Eighth Avenues.

The Department will continue its drunk driving enforcement on New Year's Eve through DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the City. The NYPD increased drunk driving arrests 16.4% over the last year, and as part of the DWI Forfeiture Initiative, seized 2,245 vehicles from drunk drivers so far in 2007, 33% more than 2006. Due to these efforts, our City experienced a 33% decline in drunk-driving fatalities this year.

TRANSIT INFORMATION

            Beginning at 7 p.m. on Monday, December 31^st, some subway access around Times Square will be closed. The following subway system changes should be noted:

• Southbound and northbound N/R/W lines will skip the 49^th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Monday, December 31^st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Tuesday, January 1^st.
• The northbound IRT “#1” train will skip the 50^th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Monday, December 31^st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Tuesday, January 1^st.