Extra Security Prompts Traffic, Transit Changes For New Year's Eve

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Times Square will soon be packed with two million people for the big New Year's Eve celebration.

The NYPD isn't taking any chances with their safety as final preparations are underway for tonight's bash.

Barricades were set up and police were to move in at least 65 garbage trucks to surround the perimeter of Times Square. Around 7,000 officers will also be assigned to keep watch over the festivities.

The extra security is in response to recent truck-based terror attacks in France and Germany.

If you find yourself traveling near Times Square, expect a number of road closures.

As CBS2's Alex Denis reported, changes in Midtown started Saturday afternoon. The NYPD will start closing down access to Times Square -- stretching from 41st Street to 59th Street between Sixth and Eighth Avenues. The exact times these blocks will start closing depended on when people start arriving to the area.

Expect difficulty traveling across town as far north as 59th Street. If you do plan on going to Times Square for Saturday night's party, make sure to enter from either Sixth or Eighth Avenue.

Additionally, there will be several changes for subway riders throughout the day.

From noon until after midnight, the N, Q, and R trains will skip the 49th Street station in both directions, and from 7 pm until midnight the 42nd Street exit will be closed for N, Q, R, 1, 2, 3, 7, and S trains.

For a full list of changes and restrictions, see below:

Beginning at 4 a.m., Times Square was be closed to vehicular traffic. At approximately 11 a.m., attendees were directed by police officers to gather in separate viewing sections.

When one section reaches capacity, people will be directed to the next viewing section. As the evening progresses, revelers will continue to populate Times Square along Broadway and Seventh Avenue moving uptown from 43rd Street to Central Park.

· Umbrellas, backpacks and large bags prohibited
· Alcohol beverages prohibited
· Property may not be abandoned at checkpoints
· Attendees who leave before the ball drops will not be able to gain entry to their original viewing area

There will be no parking in the following areas from Saturday, December 31st at 12:01 a.m. until 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 1st:
All cross-town streets from 33rd to 59th Street between 6th and 8th Avenue;
· West side of 5th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
· West side of 6th Avenue, from 34th to 59th Streets;
· Both side of 6th Avenue, from 37th to 52nd Streets;
· Broadway between 34th to 59th Streets
· 7th Avenue between 34th to 59th Streets
· 9th Avenue between 41st to 43rd Streets
· West side of 10th Avenue, from 58th to 59th Streets
· Both side of 11th Avenue, from 34th to 39th Streets
· East side of 11th Avenue, from 58th to 59th Streets
· Both side of 8th Avenue from 34th to 59th Streets;
· 34th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
· 34th Street between 11th to 12th Avenues
· 37th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
· 38th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue

THE NEW YORK CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES
STREET CLOSURES FOR THE NEW YEAR'S EVE
CELEBRATION IN TIMES SQUARE

Traffic Advisory
· 39th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 40th Street between 5th to 9th Avenue
· 41st Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 42nd Street between 1st to 2nd Avenue
· 42nd Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
· 43rd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
· 44th Street between 6th to 9th Avenue
· 45th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 46th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 47th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 48th Street between 5th and 9th Avenue;
· 49th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 50th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· Both side of 51st from 6th to 8th Avenue
· 52nd Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
· 53rd Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 54th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 55th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 56th Street between 6th to 8th Avenue
· 57th Street between 5th to 9th Avenue
· 58th Street between 5th and 8th Avenue;
· 58th Street between 10th to 11th Avenue
· 59th Street between 10th to 11th Avenue
· 59th Street between 5th Avenue and Columbus Circle.

At approximately 4 a.m. on Saturday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:
· Seventh Avenue, from 43rd to 48th Streets;
· Broadway, from 47th to 48th Streets;
· 46th and 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 31st, the following streets will be closed to all vehicular traffic:
· Seventh Avenue, from 41st to 59th Streets;
· Broadway, from 47th to 59th Streets;
· 43rd to 47th Streets, from Sixth to Eighth Avenue.

Beginning at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 31st, 42nd Street from 6th to Eight Avenue will be closed to traffic.

After 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 31st, the remainder of the traffic closures will be instituted as crowd conditions warrant:
· All cross-town streets from 37th to 41st Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
· All cross-town streets from 49th to 59th Streets - Sixth to Eighth Avenues;
· 48th Street, from Fifth to Ninth Avenues;
· Cross-town access for emergency vehicles will be available on 42nd, 48th, and 59th Streets.
· People are strongly advised to use public transportation. On-street parking will be extremely limited in the Midtown area. People should avoid all cross-town streets from 34th to 59th Streets, as well as Sixth and Eighth Avenues. The Department will continue its drunken driving enforcement on New Year's Eve through DWI patrols and checkpoints throughout the City.

TRANSIT INFORMATION
Beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday, December 31st, some subway access around Times Square will be closed. The following subway system changes should be noted:
Southbound and northbound N/R/W lines will bypass the 49th Street station beginning at noon, Saturday , December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Sunday, January 1st.
The northbound IRT "#1" train will bypass the 50th Street station beginning at noon, Saturday, December 31st until approximately 12:15 a.m., Sunday, January 1st.

In:
• Times Square