Broadway Plaza Construction To Begin This Weekend
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Two sections of Broadway are getting a major makeover starting this weekend as part of the city's Green Light for Midtown program.
Starting Sunday night, no cars will be allowed on Broadway between 33rd and 35th Street, and from 42nd to 47th Street.
Traffic will be routed to 7th Avenue as the city starts construction on huge pedestrian plazas in Times Square and Herald Square.
The mayor hopes the move will ease chronic traffic congestion in the area, while creating a safer place for walkers and bike riders.
"It creates these enormous plazas for people. And people say 'you're turning the city over to pedestrians.' Well, there are more pedestrians. And everyone will be safer," Bloomberg said. "Times Square and Herald Square have high accident rates because people the sidewalks are so crowded people have to walk in the streets. We'll see what happens. The stores seems very enthusiastic about it."
During construction, the city has several activities planned for the area, including broadcasting the Tony Awards on a video screen to a live audience on June 7th. The city estimates construction will be done by mid-August.