NYC Gridlock Challenge: Better to walk or drive?

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- Eyewitness News reporter Mike Marza took the NYC Gridlock Challenge. With the United Nations in town and security on high, it's a gridlock alert week in Manhattan. So is it faster to walk or drive?

Mike walked while a Roadcam 7navigated traffic from 33rd Street to 57th Streets along 3rd Avenue starting at 3:00 p.m. By 3:24 p.m., Mike already reached the destination, but Roadcam 7 was still only at 42nd Street.

It's gridlock alert week in NYC. Better to walk or drive? Mike Marza found out.

The NYPD, Secret Service and FBI has enhanced security measures in place for the 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly, which runs through Sept. 30.

In addition, the NYPD issued a traffic advisory for the event and the NYC Department of Transportation is advising commuters to expect increased traffic volume in Midtown Manhattan.

During the General Assembly, New York City hosts about 200 dignitaries from around the world.

The NYPD and its law enforcement partners on the federal, state and local levels are providing thousands of highly-trained uniformed and plain-clothes officers throughout the entire event to help ensure the safety of New Yorkers.

During last year's General Assembly, New York City transportation officials estimated the speeds in Midtown Manhattan at 4 miles per hour.

WATCH THE CHALLENGE:

The NYPD has issued the following traffic advisory:

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23rd, 2019

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

--42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue

--57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue

--2nd Avenue from 41st Street to 57th Street

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

--1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day's session.

--44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

--42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

--42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day's session.

The following streets will have managed access and no vehicle parking permitted:

--Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place.

--1st Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

--Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place

--50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--54th Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue

--55th Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

--55th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--56th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--58th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

-- 58th Street from Plaza to 6th Avenue

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24th, 2019

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

--1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day's session.

--44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--49th Street from 3rd Avenue to Lexington Avenue

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

--42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue

--57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue

--2nd Avenue from 41st Street to 57th Street

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

--42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

--42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day's session.

The following streets will have managed access and no vehicle parking permitted:

--Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place.

--1st Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

--Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place

--50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

==54th Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue

--55th Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

--55th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--56th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--58th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--58th Street from Plaza to 6th Avenue

--61st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--61st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--61st Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25th, 2019

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

--42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue

--57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue

--2nd Avenue from 41st Street to 57th Street

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

--1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day's session.

--44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

--42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

--42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day's session.

The following streets will have managed access and no vehicle parking permitted:

--Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place.

--1st Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

--Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--54th Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue

--55th Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

--55th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--56th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--58th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--58th Street from Plaza to 6th Avenue

--61st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--61st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--61st Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26th, 2019

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

--42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue

--57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue

--2nd Avenue from 41st Street to 57th Street

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

--1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day's session.

--44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

--42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

--42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day's session.

The FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures:

--Southbound at 63rd Street

--Northbound at South Ferry

The following streets will have managed access and no vehicle parking permitted:

--Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place.

--1st Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

--Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place

--50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--54th Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue

--55th Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

--55th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--56th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--58th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--58th Street from Plaza to 6th Avenue

--61st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--61st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--61st Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27th, 2019

The following streets will have one traffic lane dedicated to emergency vehicles for the duration of the General Assembly:

--42nd Street from 1st Avenue to 5th Avenue

--57th Street from 2nd Avenue to 5th Avenue

--2nd Avenue from 41st Street to 57th Street

The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed to vehicular traffic:

--1st Avenue from 42nd Street to 48th Street. The tunnel underpass from 41st Street to 48th Street will remain open for passenger cars. Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access until the end of each day's session.

--44th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--45th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

--46th Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue

The following will be closed to vehicular traffic beginning at approximately 5:00 a.m.:

--42nd Street from the FDR Drive to 2nd Avenue

--42nd Street Exit and Entrance Ramps of the FDR Drive

Please note: These areas will reopen each evening after the day's session.

The following streets will have managed access and no vehicle parking permitted:

--Battery Place from Little West Street to Second Place.

--1st Place from Battery Place to Little West Street

--Little West Street from Battery Place to 2nd Place

--50th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--51st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--51st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--54th Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue

--55th Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

--55th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--56th Street from 5th Avenue to 6th Avenue

--58th Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--58th Street from Plaza to 6th Avenue

--61st Street from Lexington Avenue to Park Avenue

--61st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue

--61st Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue

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