As you know, from September 24 through September 26, 2015, Pope Francis will be visiting New York City. New Yorkers should anticipate traffic disruptions and various street closures. The use of public transportation is highly encouraged during this period. All New Yorkers in the vicinity of the visit’s events will be affected: traffic, client appointments, critical services, and deliveries in the impacted areas . Please share this information, partner organizations, and employees to allow extra travel time, find alternate routes or locations, or reschedule appointments in the area. Employees and residents of the affected areas should be advised to carry identification at all times.

The MTA New York City Bus system is planning significant service changes to bus routes near the locations of papal events in order to accommodate street closures and pedestrian restrictions. Those service changes will be posted at www.mta.info/nyct. Affected customers are encouraged to use subway service if possible; subway managers will be prepared to adjust train operations based on conditions in stations near papal events. Please note that road closures during the papal visit are subject to change at the discretion of the NYPD. Future updates and traffic advisories will be posted here.

Here is a map of street closings from WNYC:

Please click here to view the full list of streetclosures and traffic restrictions.

Planned Road Closures

Day Closures
Thur, Sep 24 Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m.:

  • 50th Street from Madison Ave. to 5th Avenue
  • 51st Street from Madison Ave. to 5th Avenue

The FDR DRIVE (Southbound at 63rd Street and Northbound at South Ferry) will be subject to intermittent closures.

Fri, Sep 25 Beginning at approximately 3 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until 6 a.m.:

  • 5th Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street
  • 48th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 50th Street from 5th Ave. to 6th Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
  • 51st Street from 5th Ave. to 6th Avenue (will remained closed until approx. 9 p.m.)
  • 52nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 6 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be re-opened to vehicular traffic until 10 a.m.:

  • 5th Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street48th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 52nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue Please note: Crosstown traffic will be reduced to one lane of traffic

Beginning at approximately 10 a.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m.:

  • 5th Avenue from 47th Street to 55th Street
  • 48th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 49th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 50th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 51st Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 52nd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 53rd Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 54th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue
  • 55th Street from Madison Ave. to 6th Avenue

Beginning at approximately 2 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the St. Patrick’s Cathedral will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 9 p.m. (Madison Avenue from 47th Street to 57th Street)


The following streets in the vicinity of the United Nations will continued to be closed for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) 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 the day’s session.
  • 43rd Street from 1st Avenue to 2nd Avenue
  • 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.


9-11 Memorial. Beginning at approximately midnight, Liberty Street (from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street) and Cedar Street (from Trinity Place to Greenwich Street)  will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 1 p.m.

Beginning at approximately 11 a.m., West Street (North bound on  from Battery Place to Murray Street) will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 1 p.m.West Street (South bound on  from Chambers Street to Albany Street) will be subject to additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic and closed to trucks and other large vehicles.


Beginning at approximately midnight streets in the vicinity of the Our Lady Queen of Angels School  (112th Street from 2nd Avenue to 3rd Avenue and the 113th Street Cul-de-sac) will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 6 p.m.Please note: Starting at approximately 3 p.m. trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access 2nd Avenue from 106th Street to 116th Street and 3rd Avenue between 106th Street to 116th Street.


Beginning at approximately midnight the following streets in the vicinity of Central Park will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 7 p.m.:

  • Central Park West between Columbus Circle and West 81st Street
  • W 61st Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 62nd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 63rd Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 64th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 65th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 66th Street between Central Park West and Broadway
  • W 67th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 68th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 69th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 70th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 71st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 72nd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue • W 73rd Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 74th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 75th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 76th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue
  • W 77th Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue

Madison Square Garden. Beginning at approximately midnight, 31st Street from 7th Avenue to 9th Avenue and 33rd Street from 7th Avenue to 9th Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 11:59 p.m.Beginning at approximately noon, the following streets in the vicinity of Madison Square Garden will have intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic:

  • 31st Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue – managed access
  • 32nd Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue- managed access
  • 33rd Street from 6th Avenue to 7th Avenue- managed access
  • 7th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street – two western lanes closed
  • 8th Avenue from 31st Street to 33rd Street – one lane only/intermittent closures

Please note: Starting at approximately noon, trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access 7th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street or 8th Avenue from 30th Street to 34th Street.

Sat, Sep 26 The FDR DRIVE will be subject to intermittent closures (Southbound at 63rd Street and Northbound at South Ferry)
All 3 days Papal Nuncio’s Residence. Beginning at approximately 8 a.m. on Thursday, 72nd Street from Madison Ave. to 5th Avenue  will be closed to vehicular traffic until Saturday, September 26th at approximately 10 a.m.:

Beginning at approximately 3 p.m. on Thursday until Saturday, September 26th at approximately 10 a.m., 71st Street from Madison Ave. to 5th Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access Madison Ave. from 69th Street to 74th Street while Pope Francis is in residence.

Additional intermittent closures/managed access to vehicular traffic in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence include:

  • 5th Avenue to from 74th Street to 71st Street
  • 70th Street from Park Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • 71st Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
  • 72nd Street from Park Avenue to Madison Avenue
  • 73rd Street from Madison Avenue to 5th Avenue
  • Madison Ave. from 69th Street to 73rd Street -two western lanes closed

Beginning at approximately 10 p.m. the following streets in the vicinity of the Papal Nuncio’s Residence will be closed to vehicular traffic until approximately 6 a.m.:

  • 71st Street from Park Ave. to 5th Avenue
  • 72nd Street from Park Ave. to 5th Avenue
  • 73rd Street from Park Ave. to 5th Avenue
  • Madison Ave. from 70th Street to 73rd Street

Please note: Trucks and other large vehicles will not be able to access: • 5th Ave. (from 74th Street to 71st Street) and Madison Ave. (from 69th Street to 74th Street).

Street Closures for UN General Assembly

There may be street closures in the following area of Manhattan during the UN General Assembly session between Friday, September 18 and Saturday, October 3, to be determined by the Police Department. The major meetings fall on Monday and Tuesday, September 28th-29th (Sukkoth). Motorcades taking world leaders around town contribute to the gridlock. Consider using public transportation to get around the area.

For daily closings click here.

The affected locations are:

  • Area bounded by East 60th Street on the north, East 34th Street on the south, 1st Avenue on the east, Madison Avenue on the west, All inclusive.
  • 34th Street between FDR Drive and 7th Avenue
  • 42nd Street between FDR Drive and 7th Avenue
  • 50th Street between FDR Drive and 7th Avenue
  • 57th Street between FDR Drive and 7th Avenue
  • 48th Street and 49th Street between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive Service Road
  • FDR Drive Service Road between 48th Street and 49th Street
  • 51st Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
  • 52nd Street and 53rd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue
  • 54th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
  • 55th Street between 6th Avenue and Madison Avenue
  • 56th Street between 5th Avenue and 6th Avenue
  • 6th Avenue between 53rd Street and 55th Street