More than 1 million revelers will descend upon Times Square Thursday for the annual New Year celebrations, and the NYPD has released the following advisories for visitors.
- Share your New Year's Eve photos on Instagram or Twitter using #NBC4NY for a chance to be featured online or on air!
TIMES SQUARE BALL DROP VIEWING SECTIONS
Times Square will close to vehicular traffic beginning at 4 a.m. Thursday. At about 11 a.m., police will start directing spectators to gather in separate viewing sections. Each section will be closed once it becomes filled, and newly arriving spectators will be directed to the next viewing section.
Revelers will continue to populate Times Square along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to Central Park.
SECURITY RESTRICTIONS
Local
Backpacks, large bags and alcohol are prohibited.
Property may not be left at checkpoints.
Anyone who leaves a viewing area before the ball drops will not be able to gain entry to their original viewing area.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
Police urge visitors to take public transportation since streets will be closed around Times Square and there will be parking restrictions.
From 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, through about 12:15 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1, the N, R and W subway lines will bypass the 49th Street station in both directions, and the northbound 1 train will bypass the 50th Street station.
TRAFFIC
On-street parking will be extremely limited in midtown. Both drivers and pedestrians should avoid all cross-town streets from 34th Street through 59th Street, as well as Sixth and Eighth avenues.
The NYPD is continuing its DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the city.
PARKING
There will be no parking in the following areas from 12:01 a.m. Thursday through 1 a.m. Friday:
• All cross-town streets from 33rd to 59th Street between 6th and 8th Avenue;
• West side of 5th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
• West side of 6th Avenue, from 34th to 59th Streets;
• Both side of 6th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
• Broadway between 34th to 59th Streets
• 7th Avenue between 34th to 59th Streets
• 9th Avenue between 41st to 43rd Streets
• West side of 10th Avenue, from 58th to 59th Streets
• Both side of 11th Avenue, from 34th to 39th Streets
• East side of 11th Avenue, from 58th to 59th Streets
• Both side of 8th Avenue from 34th to 59th Streets;
• 34th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 34th Street between 11th to 12th Avenues
• 37th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 38th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 39th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 40th Street between 5th to 9th Avenue
• 41st Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 42nd Street between 1st to 2nd Avenue
• 42nd Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 43rd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 44th Street between 6th to 9th Avenue
• 45th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 46th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 47th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 48th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
• 49th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 50th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• Both side of 51st from 6th to 8th Avenue
• 52nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 53rd Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 54th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 55th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 56th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
• 57th Street between 5th to 9th Avenue
• 58th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
• 58th Street between 10th to 11th Avenue
• 59th Street between 10th to 11th Avenue
• 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle.
At approximately 4 a.m. on Thursday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:
• Seventh Avenue, from 43rd to 48th Streets
• Broadway, from 47th to 48th Streets
• 46th and 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:
• Seventh Avenue, from 41st to 59th Streets
• Broadway, from 47th to 59th Streets
• 43rd to 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue
Beginning at 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 31st, 42nd Street from 6th to Eight Avenue will be closed to traffic.
After 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, the remainder of the traffic closures will be instituted as crowd conditions warrant:
• All cross-town streets from 37th to 41st Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues
• All cross-town streets from 49th to 59th Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues
• 48th Street, from Fifth to Ninth Avenues
• Cross-town access for emergency vehicles will be available on 42nd, 48th, and 59th Streets
