Gridlock Strikes Midtown – Send Us Your Photos Of The Traffic Chaos

MIDTOWN, NY – World leaders, dignitaries, and officials of all sorts are in New York City this week for the height of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

It’s an occasion that affords heads of state – including President Joe Biden, who will speak at UNGA partner event Climate Week on Tuesday – the opportunity to gather and work to address the world’s great challenges.

New Yorkers, on the other hand, will have the opportunity to contend with the slowest traffic of the year in Midtown, according to the Department of Transportation (DOT).

During UNGA, traffic speeds hover below four miles per hour in Midtown – partly the result of the additional security measures necessitated by the arrival of so many VIPs. To be fair, the rest of the year isn't so much better, when Midtown traffic normally averages between four and six miles per hour.

“Avoid Midtown, but if you have to go there, take transit,” a DOT spokesperson told Patch.

Last week, the department designated all of UNGA as “Gridlock Alert Days.”

The core of the event, "General Debate," begins Tuesday, Sept. 24, and features speeches from many of the world’s heads of state. It concludes on Sept. 30.

If you can’t avoid Midtown, which is also a place where people live – and work – Patch wants to hear from you. Send your photos, stories, or favorite podcasts to binge whilst stuck in traffic to michael.mcdowell@patch.com.