What you need to know about street closures for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

ByEyewitness News WABC logo
Wednesday, November 23, 2016
Street closures, gridlock for parade
Heather O'Rourke has the latest changes for the Thanksgiving Day Parade

NEW YORK (WABC) -- For the first time in the 90 years of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade no vehicular traffic permitted to cross the route.

The main east-west crossings in Midtown, between 42nd and 57th Streets, will be closed during the parade and the entire route will be blocked by more than 80 sand trucks.

The change follows an ISIS propaganda message that features a picture of the parade and a call to followers to use speeding vehicles to attack. The NYPD has previously cast doubt on the likelihood of success for such a Nice-style attack here.

The trucks will be just one layer of security measures the NYPD is employing during the parade. The nation's largest police force will also be deploying 3,000 more heavily-armed officers throughout the city.

It will also be using its "vapor wake" dogs to sniff for potential explosives.

Traffic restrictions begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Between 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic for the balloon inflation. The inflation can be viewed by pedestrians from 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue. Pedestrians are advised to enter the viewing area from the West side of Columbus Avenue at 79th Street.

At 1 p.m. the following street will be closed to vehicular traffic:

-West 79th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

Additional vehicular traffic closures at 3 p.m. are as follows:

-West 76th Street between Columbus and Central Park West Avenues

-West 77th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 78th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 80th Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-West 81st Street between Columbus and Amsterdam Avenues

-Central Park Transverse Road at Central Park West and West 81 St. (Both Directions)

After 10 p.m., 81st Street and 77th Street from Central Park West to Columbus Avenue as well as Central Park West from 59th Street to 86th Street will be closed to all traffic.

THURSDAY

Formation for the parade will begin at 8 a.m. at the following locations:

-West 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

-West 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

-Central Park West between West 77th and 86th Streets

The parade will begin at 9 a.m. from Central Park West and 77th Street and proceed on the following route:

-South on Central Park West to Columbus Circle

-South through E/S Columbus Circle to 59th Street

-East on 59th Street to 6th Avenue

-South on 6th Avenue to 34th Street

-West on 34th Street to 7th Avenue - (dispersal area)

Additional closures are as follows:

-Broadway between West 34th Street and West 40th Street- Midnight to 1 p.m.

-6th Avenue between West 23rd Street and West 42nd Street - 2 a.m. to 1 p.m.

-7th Avenue from West 34th Street and West 42nd Street - 2 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

-34th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 10 p.m. (Wed) to 5 p.m.

-59th Street E/B between 7th Avenue and Central Park West - Midnight to 2 p.m.

-59th Street W/B between 5th Avenue and Central Park West - 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-35th Street between 5th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 4 p.m.

-36th Street between 6th Avenue and 8th Avenue - 2 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-37th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-38th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-8th Avenue between 34th Street and 40th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

-Broadway between 38th Street and 59th Street - 4 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

-33rd Street between 7th Avenue and 10th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-39th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-40th Street between Broadway and 8th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-49th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-50th Street between 5th Avenue and 7th Avenue - 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

-Central Park 65th Street/66th Street Transverse Roads 7 a.m. until conclusion

Please note: From 9 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. vehicles will not be able to access:

-6th Avenue between West 33rd and West 59th Street

-8th Avenue between West 57th Street and West 59th Street

-8th Avenue between West 33rd and West 40th Streets

-Broadway between 59th Street and 57th Street

-Broadway between West 34th and West 40th Streets (only escorted deliveries)

-42nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue

-57th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue

There will also be no parking five car lengths from any crosswalk on the side streets along the entire parade route. Posted parking regulations will also be enforced.