20 gridlock days start Monday as the U.N. General Assembly fills Midtown
The Department of Transportation has flagged 20 gridlock days through the end of the year. The first arrives Monday, with Midtown traffic expected to crawl below 4 mph.
Twenty gridlock days sit on the city Department of Transportation’s calendar between Monday and the end of the year, and the season opens right away. The U.N. General Assembly brings world leaders to Midtown Manhattan this week, along with extra officers stationed around the neighborhood and closures that shift from block to block through the day.
While the assembly is in session, DOT estimates Midtown traffic slows to under 4 mph. The rest of the year the same streets manage 4 to 6 mph. Demonstrations are scheduled for every day of the assembly, Thursday included, when Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address the body.
When the other 2026 gridlock days fall
December carries more than half of the 20 designated days. The stretch heading into Thanksgiving is expected to be unusually congested as well. Variable message boards around the city will carry advance warnings of the delays, so drivers aiming for Manhattan should see the notice before they hit the traffic.
How to get around Midtown this week
The city’s guidance for gridlock days matches its everyday guidance: take the subway or a bus, ride a bike or walk whenever that works. Riders who want to know what they are heading into can check subway delays line by line before leaving.
Cyclists have one route the department singles out. A protected lane runs through the First Avenue Tunnel, where it became a permanent fixture in 2024, giving riders a jersey barrier-shielded express run past many of the crowded intersections near the U.N. headquarters at 45th Street. It is the first tunnel in the country converted to carry bikes while vehicles keep using it, according to DOT.
Anyone who has to drive across Midtown this week should build in extra time, or leave the car parked.
Quick answers
When do the NYC gridlock days start?
The first of the 20 gridlock days identified by the Department of Transportation begins Monday, during the U.N. General Assembly.
How slow is Midtown traffic during the U.N. General Assembly?
DOT estimates traffic around Midtown falls below 4 mph, compared with 4 to 6 mph the rest of the year.
Is there a bike route that avoids the congestion near the U.N.?
A protected lane through the First Avenue Tunnel, permanent since 2024, bypasses many busy intersections around the 45th Street headquarters.
