TIMES SQUARE - NEW YEAR EVE RESTRICTIONS

It's New Year's Eve and the "Crossroads of the World" (at least, that's what a subway conductor calls Times Square) is ready to celebrate the close of 2008 and to welcome 2009! The New Year's Eve Ball was tested yesterday—it seems to be working just fine—and workers were getting balloons ready for the revelry.

There are a number of activities to be found in Times Square today: Pepsi, launching its new "Refresh Everything" campaign, will be taking over the Good Morning America studio between noon and 4 p.m., with "photo opps, swag and additional giveaways," and yes, Pepsi. The photos can be picked up at Refresh Everything, and the "video confessionals" may be broadcast on the ticket outside the GMA studio for all of Times Square to see.

The Duracell Power Lodge, where visitors ride on stationary bikes to store power for the "2009" sign's lights, will be open until 3 p.m. The Power Lodge is upstairs from the Charmin Restrooms, which will be open between midnight and 2 a.m. as a "safe and accessible bathroom haven after the 2009 Ball drops." Both are at 1540 Broadway, between 45th & 46th Streets.

As for getting to Times Square, be patient: Vehicular traffic will be closed at 3 p.m. and the NYPD will be checking/managing the crowd as the afternoon progresses into the evening. The NYPD press release after the jump—the police "strongly recommend" that people take public transit, and they will be checking bags, plus "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":

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 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, 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 43rd Street to Central Park.

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

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;
- East side of 6th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
- East side of 8th Avenue from 34th to 57th Streets;
- 48th Street between 5th and Ninth Avenues;
- 43rd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
- 42nd Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
- 37th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
- 34th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
- 48th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
- 52nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
- 58th Street between 6th and 8th Avenue;
- 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:

- Seventh Avenue, from 41st to 59th Streets;
- Broadway, from 41st to 59th Streets;
- 43rd to 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, 42nd Street from 6th to Eight Avenue will 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.

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 59th Streets, as well as Sixth and Eighth Avenues. The Department will continue its drunken driving enforcement on New Year's Eve through DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the City. The NYPD made 10,517 drunken driving arrests this year, and as part of the DWI Forfeiture Initiative, seized 2,109 vehicles from drunk drivers so far in 2008.

TRANSIT INFORMATION

Beginning at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, December 31st, 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 49th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Thursday, January 1st.

The northbound IRT "#1" train will skip the 50th Street station beginning at 7 p.m., Wednesday, December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Thursday, January 1st.