Diplomatic Gridlock: World Leaders Descend on U.N.
NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- New Yorkers, brace yourself for the downside of diplomacy: horrific traffic.
Police are warning the city to expect major disruptions on Manhattan roadways this week as more than 100 world leaders gather for the United NationsGeneral Assembly.
The city will be closing off streets and rerouting buses throughout the week to accommodate security details and scores of protests on every conceivable issue.
Many of the blockades will be centered around the United Nations complex on the East Side. On Monday, there will be intermittent closures of FDR Drive between 63rd Street and South Ferry. At other times, the highway will be open, but only one lane. Some vehicles will be subjected to security checks.
Streets throughout midtown will be opening and closing all week for various events, often during rush hour.
"Think of the GA in UNGA as 'gridlock alert' or 'got aspirin?''' NYPD spokesman Paul J. Browne said in a written statement.
As bad as they are, the closures serve a purpose. Security officials don't want heads of state from Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran and other hot spots stalled in gridlock as they shuttle between events.
The NYPD doesn't plan to calculate the cost of providing security until the assembly ends, but Browne said, ``We anticipate presenting a multimillion-dollar bill to the State Department.''
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The city will be closing off streets and rerouting buses throughout the week to accommodate security details and scores of protests on every conceivable issue.
other hot spots stalled in gridlock as they shuttle between events.
