The city administration announced on Friday (29th) the traffic control measures for the eight match days of the FIFA World Cup: 42nd Street across Manhattan will be completely closed, allowing only World Cup designated vehicles and public buses to pass through. At the same time, multiple streets around Penn Station will also be prohibited for vehicle traffic; during the matches from June to July, the public is urged to avoid driving through the bustling midtown Manhattan area.
Mayor Mamdani stated that all eight match days will be designated as “Gridlock Alert Days,” urging the public to opt for walking, biking, or taking the subway for transportation.
To ensure smooth traffic flow for the buses transporting spectators to the matches, the following traffic control measures will be implemented in the city:
Full closure of 42nd Street: 42nd Street between 1st Avenue and 12th Avenue will be prohibited for all private and taxi vehicles from 6 hours before the match starts to 3 hours after it ends, allowing only World Cup shuttle buses and MTA local buses to operate.
Final match day upgrade: On the final match day, July 19th, the restricted hours on 42nd Street will be extended for an additional 3 hours.
Peripheral road closures: West 40th Street between 8th Avenue and 11th Avenue, as well as West 41st Street between 8th Avenue and 10th Avenue, will also be designated as bus lanes simultaneously.
Temporary lane changes on 6th Avenue: The two lanes on the east side of 6th Avenue between 42nd Street and 59th Street will be temporarily converted into bus lanes on match days to alleviate midtown traffic congestion.
Other traffic measures:
At the crowded Penn Station, fans heading to the stadium must present both the World Cup ticket and train ticket before entering the waiting hall. To facilitate this process, a large waiting area will be set up outside the station. Four hours before each match starts, traffic around the station will be cut off, including the sections from 33rd Street between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue, as well as 32nd Street between 6th Avenue and 7th Avenue.
Logistics and food delivery industries will also face direct impacts. From 6 hours before the match starts to 3 hours after it ends, the entire core area from 30th Street to 60th Street in Manhattan, stretching from the East River to the Hudson River, will strictly limit the entry of large trucks for deliveries. However, this restriction does not apply to small cars, vans, cargo bicycles, and other small delivery vehicles.