‘Gridlock Squared’
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
New Yorkers should brace themselves for what could be the worst traffic congestion in Manhattan’s history, the police commissioner, Raymond Kelly, warned at a briefing yesterday.
“The best way to describe traffic next week would be gridlock squared,” Mr. Kelly said. And the conditions, he said, will “only deteriorate as the week progresses.”
The 60th annual United Nations General Assembly between September 17 and 28 is expected to occasion Midtown street closings, maritime restrictions around U.N. headquarters, protests in Dag Hammarskjold Plaza, and in some cases, searches of trucks and packages. Mr. Kelly said leaders of more than 200 foreign countries are expected to attend.
Making traffic matters worse will be the Tuesday primary election and an overnight visit by President Bush, as well as the Clinton Global Initiative between Tuesday and Thursday at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers.
