NEW YORK (1010 WINS/WCBS 880) -- It's that time of the year, drivers—when the city warns Manhattan traffic headaches are set to become full-blown migraines.
A list of 2023's Gridlock Alert Days was released Thursday by the city Department of Transportation ahead of the United Nations General Assembly and the busy holiday season.
The notorious travel days are designated to give drivers a heads-up about the "slowest and most congested" traffic days of the year, when extensive closures and delays will snarl streets across Manhattan.
Of the 19 gridlock days cropping up through the end of the year, five are in September, another five in November and nine more in December.
The first round—Sept. 18, 19, 20, 21 and 22—fall on the week of the General Assembly, when New York welcomes dignitaries from around the world to the U.N. headquarters at East 45th Street. Tight security leads to a maze of traffic changes, especially on Manhattan's East Side.
Average vehicle speeds in Midtown during the General Assembly are the slowest of the year—less than 4 mph, compared to the downright zippy average of 4–6 mph.
"We strongly encourage New Yorkers and those in the region to travel by transit every day of the year—but it’s especially important during Gridlock Alert days," DOT commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez said in a statement.
The DOT also announced that protected bike lanes along First and Second avenues in Midtown East would remain open during the week of the General Assembly. Cyclists along First Avenue will be able to use the First Avenue Tunnel between East 40th and East 49th streets 24/7 that week, while a temporary bike lane will be in place between East 47th and East 42nd streets until 9 p.m. each day. Cyclist will be subject to security checkpoints and unannounced traffic freezes, officials said.
Here's the full list of 2023 Gridlock Alert Days:
• Monday, September 18, 2023
• Tuesday, September 19, 2023
• Wednesday, September 20, 2023
• Thursday, September 21, 2023
• Friday, September 22, 2023
• Wednesday, November 15, 2023
• Thursday, November 16, 2023
• Tuesday, November 21, 2023
• Wednesday, November 29, 2023
• Thursday, November 30, 2023
• Friday, December 1, 2023
• Tuesday, December 5, 2023
• Wednesday, December 6, 2023
• Thursday, December 7, 2023
• Friday, December 8, 2023
• Tuesday, December 12, 2023
• Wednesday, December 13, 2023
• Thursday, December 14, 2023
• Friday, December 15, 2023