New York City has been hit by severe traffic congestion as security measures and diplomatic movements for the United Nations General Assembly disrupt roads across Midtown Manhattan.
The high-level session, which opened Tuesday and runs through Sept. 28, has drawn representatives from nearly 200 countries, prompting authorities to introduce widespread road closures and security restrictions.
The New York City Department of Transportation designated Sept. 21-25 as “Gridlock Alert Days”, warning that average traffic speeds in Midtown could fall below four miles per hour during the General Assembly.
Several major avenues around the UN complex have been closed, while sections of the highway along the East River have also been affected. Additional rolling and street closures are being imposed as foreign delegations travel between venues.
New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the security operation as one of the department’s most complex, with the NYPD working alongside the Secret Service, FBI and UN police. More than 20 federal, state and local agencies are involved in the operation.
A temporary flight restriction has also been imposed over parts of New York, with unauthorised drones prohibited and NYPD counter-drone teams deployed to enforce the restriction.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the city remained a security target, particularly with thousands of international representatives in the city, adding that authorities were working with federal agencies to protect residents and visitors.
Police also expect multiple demonstrations each day during the General Assembly, particularly around Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address on Thursday.
Organisers have announced demonstrations by Jewish and Israeli-American groups, while Iranian-American groups are also holding rallies near the UN over political developments in Iran.
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