Thurs., May 21 – Wed., May 27
ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE SUSPENDED MONDAY FOR MEMORIAL DAY
May the get-away games begin! With Memorial Day weekend fast approaching, brace for heavier traffic than we’ve seen in the past few years. Traffic is up at all bridges and tunnels and at airports. No need to fear, Transit Sam is here!
Lower Manhattan will see monster traffic jams at bridges and tunnels on Thursday and Friday. Hardest hit will be the Holland Tunnel approaches from Canal, Varick, and Broome Sts. The Broome St. back-up, around 4 p.m. both days, may extend all the way to Lafayette St. The best time to travel will be after 9 p.m. Friday.
On Monday – Memorial Day – alternate side parking rules are suspended, as are meter parking rules. Signs that say “No parking” or “No standing” on certain weekdays, in this case Monday, are also suspended. Signs with the word “anytime” are still in effect.
Fleet Week continues through Tuesday. Naval enthusiasts will flock to the Hudson River waterfront to tour U.S. Navy ships, and an event at the 9/11 Memorial Plaza will cause slowdowns 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Friday. Expect heavy traffic on the West Side Highway.
East River crossing woes ahead: In the Lincoln Tunnel, the New York-bound south tube will close 11 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday. In the Holland Tunnel, one New York-bound lane will close 11 p.m. Thursday to 5 a.m. Friday.
All Manhattan-bound lanes of the Brooklyn Bridge will close 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Wednesday through Friday, and midnight Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday.
On West St./Route 9A, one northbound lane will close between West Thames and Vesey Sts.10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday.
The Little Italy Pedestrian mall kicks off its weekly Friday evening closures of Mulberry St. between Canal and Broome Sts. and Hester St. between Mott and Baxter Sts. 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.
The Washington Square Outdoor Art Exhibit will close Washington Square East between Waverly Pl. and West 4th St., and the sidewalks on University Pl. between E 13th St. and Waverly Pl. and on Washington Pl. between Washington Square East and Mercer St. noon to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday.
The Chabad of Wall Street Community Fair will close Liberty St. between Broadway and Trinity Pl. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday.
Email your traffic, transit and parking questions to transitsam@downtownxpress.com. For the most up-to-date Memorial Day get-away news, follow
@GridlockSam and check www.GridlockSam.com.
