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From the mailbag over the years regarding the NYC Marathon:
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I'm landing at LaGuardia Airport 3 p.m. Sunday, the day of the NYC Marathon and live on the Upper East Side. Do you think it's ok to take a cab back to the city or should I just bus it to Queens and take the E to 53rd St. and Lexington Ave? Could I even take the bus to 125th St. and Lexington?
Tom via e-mail
Dear Tom,
Many cabbies take the morning and early afternoon off. By 3 p.m., you may be able to get a cab to take you across the RFK-Triborough Bridge and down the FDR to 96th St., 71st St. or 63rd St. but only up to York Ave; the runners go up First Ave. If you live closer to Fifth Ave, or can’t get a cab, take the bus to 125th St. and Lexington Ave. and switch to the Lex line. My last choice would be to take a local bus to the E (which will probably run local on a Sunday) and then switch at Lexington for an uptown 6.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’m heading to Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ from East End Ave. around 10:30 a.m. Sunday, the day of the NYC marathon. Could you please tell me the route I should follow to get out of the city? I’ll be leaving around 10:30 a.m. One year, I was stuck for about three hours and made all the wrong choices.
Marcia, Upper East Side
Dear Marcia,
You made the right choice this time writing Gridlock Sam. Here’s the scoop: The lead runners should come over the Queensboro Bridge and head north onto First Ave. right around the time you want to hit the road. And with First Ave. closed from 63rd St. up to the Willis Ave. Bridge, your best bet will be taking East End Ave. to 79th St., turning left, then a quick right to hop on the southbound FDR Drive. From there, exit at 34th St. and cut across town to the Lincoln Tunnel. With no football game at the Meadowlands Sunday, it should be smooth sailing right to the NJ Turnpike and down to Exit 9 for Rutgers University.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I'm planning to attend a baby shower Marathon Sunday in Bethpage, Long Island. I'm leaving from Staten Island about 9:30 a.m. Will I have a problem getting off Staten Island? What’s an alternative route?
Joanne, Staten Island
Dear Joanne,
Yes, you will. But Madam, never fear… Gridlock Sam is here. I’m going to send you through New Jersey, which on a Sunday could be a madhouse with football at the Meadowlands. But the NFL, at my request, sent both NY teams on the road. So, take the Bayonne Bridge to Rt. 169 to I-78 (the NJ Turnpike extension) to the Holland Tunnel. Take the last tunnel exit to Canal St. to the Manhattan Bridge (construction at the Williamsburg). Take the upper level; it’s the roadway on the right. At the Brooklyn end, take the ramp to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway (BQE) and follow signs to the BQE eastbound which leads into the Long Island Expressway. Also, follow the marathon-mania at www.twitter.com/GridlockSam.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I live in Staten Island and have a wedding to attend in Brooklyn on marathon day in the afternoon. What’s the best way to get there?
Lenore, S.I.
Dear Lenore,
If it’s an early afternoon affair, you’ll need to get very creative. After 3 p.m., you should be OK using the Verrazano Bridge, although allow an extra 20 minutes. Now the creative part: you probably aren’t registered for the marathon, so jogging across the bridge is out. Going “round-the-horn,” i.e. New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel to the Battery Tunnel to the Gowanus to the Belt Parkway or Brooklyn Queens Expressway will work as long as you don’t use major streets that cross the marathon. Any street that crosses Fourth Ave. should be crossed off your list and the same for Lafayette, McGuiness, Bedford, Flatbush, Manhattan and Greenpoint Aves.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’ll be at 62nd St. and Columbus Ave. Marathon Day and planned to drive to an unveiling in Queens via the West Side Highway to the Cross Bronx to the Whitestone Bridge to the Van Wyck, leaving about 10 a.m. I could take Long Island Railroad to Queens and have a car service take me to the cemetery and back, leaving around 3 p.m. Thoughts?
Debbie, Lincoln Center
Dear Debbie,
There are no marathon closures on the west side of Manhattan besides Central Park West, so the route you describe should be ok, though it will be more crowded than usual as drivers avoid the East side. The Whitestone and Van Wyck will be unaffected.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’ll be returning to Long Island from Virginia on Sun. Nov. 2nd. What time does the Verrazano reopen? Should I just forget about it altogether and stay on the Jersey Turnpike to the GWB and the Cross Bronx (which I really dislike)?
Adeline, Long Island
Dear Adeline,
Forget it (unless returning late afternoon or evening)! The bridge may re-open around 3 p.m., but the residual delays are what’ll get you. If you must travel during those hours, your way is ok or follow a shorter detour: the Holland Tunnel to the Manhattan or Williamsburg Bridges to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway eastbound to the Long Island Expressway.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
You’re my only hope. I need to get from Long Branch, NJ to Aqueduct Racetrack on Sunday by 11 a.m. Is there a way around the Marathon closures, or should I leave before the bridges close? Thank you so much for your help!
Michelle, exit 105 off the GSP
Dear Michelle,
This is just one of several letters I get from readers needing to travel to a sporting event on Marathon day. As your only hope (I thank you), here’s your best bet for Sunday; Unless you leave Long Branch by 5 a.m., the Staten Island-NJ crossings are all out. The Lincoln Tunnel is also out, because of a 1 p.m. Jets game. Therefore, take the Holland Tunnel to Canal St., make a left onto Bowery, a right onto Delancey St. and over the Williamsburg Bridge to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway for access to the Long Island Expressway and to the Van Wyck and on to exit 2, Rockaway Blvd. Safe travels….
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’m attending a wedding in Howard Beach 2 p.m. Marathon Sunday, November 6th. I have friends coming in from NJ and Maryland and realize the Verrazano Bridge is likely out of commission. Is the Lincoln Tunnel to the Queens-Midtown Tunnel to the Long Island Expressway (LIE) to Woodhaven Blvd. a good alternative route? If that’s not drivable, how about the Holland Tunnel to the Battery Tunnel to the Belt Parkway?
Jeremy via e-mail
Dear Jeremy,
Since you’re sticking with major highways (and avoiding the FDR) and avoiding all the closed Manhattan River Crossings, I think the Lincoln to Midtown Tunnel to the LIE and so on should be fine. I don’t anticipate any major problems. You may encounter some extra traffic at the Midtown Tunnel as runners cross the nearby Queensboro Bridge. Keep the marathon questions coming!
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’m driving home to Nassau County from Delaware on Sunday, the day of the New York City Marathon. I’m heading back that Sunday afternoon or evening depending on your advice. When does the Verrazano Bridge re-open? Should I just forget it and stay on the Jersey Turnpike to the George Washington Bridge?
Michelle, Nassau County
Dear Michelle,
The later the better in your case! The Verrazano Bridge will likely re-open around 3 p.m. after marathon cleanup. Some drivers think their traffic woes are solved once the bridge re-opens. Wrong! It’s the residual delays that also bog you down. If you prefer the Verrazano, I’d wait till the evening to journey home. If you need to get home ASAP, you can go your way (the long way) or my way (the short way) via the Holland Tunnel to the Manhattan or Williamsburg Bridges to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway eastbound to the Long Island Expressway.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I live in Staten Island and have a wedding to attend in Brooklyn on marathon day in the afternoon. What’s the best way to get there?
Lenore, S.I.
Dear Lenore,
If it’s an early afternoon affair, you’ll need to get very creative. After 3 p.m., you should be OK using the bridge, although allow an extra 20 minutes. Now the creative part: you probably aren’t registered for the marathon, so jogging across the bridge is out. Going “round-the-horn,” i.e. New Jersey to the Holland Tunnel to the Battery Tunnel to the Gowanus to the Belt Parkway or Brooklyn Queens Expressway will work as long as you don’t use major streets that cross the marathon. Any street that crosses Fourth Ave. should be crossed off your list and the same for Lafayette, McGuiness, Bedford, Flatbush, Manhattan and Greenpoint Aves.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
On Marathon Sunday, I’ll be at 62nd St. and Columbus Ave. and planned to drive to an unveiling in Queens via the West Side Highway to the Cross Bronx to the Whitestone Bridge to the Van Wyck, leaving about 10 a.m. I could take Long Island Railroad to Queens and have a car service take me to the cemetery and back, leaving around 3 p.m. Any thoughts?
Debbie, Lincoln Center
Dear Debbie,
There are no marathon closures on the west side of Manhattan besides Central Park West, so the route you describe should be ok, though it will be more crowded than usual as drivers avoid the East Side. The Whitestone and Van Wyck will be unaffected.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
Marathon Sunday, we have to drive from Ditmas Park, Brooklyn to 75th St. on the Upper East Side (we could take Prospect Expressway into the Battery Tunnel to the FDR Drive) around noon, then drive to Montclair, NJ around 3 p.m.. What’s the way to go?
Larry, Ditmas Park
Dear Larry,
All I can say is ‘oy vey!’ You’ll be able to take the Prospect into the Battery Tunnel and up the FDR Drive, but if you're planning to exit at 61st St. you will have problems. The route on the Upper East Side goes from the Queensboro Bridge, up First Ave. through Harlem to the Bronx. It comes down Fifth Ave. from Harlem with runners entering Central Park at 90th St. From noon to 3 p.m., most cross streets will be closed with only occasional breaks for traffic. I’d suggest taking the West Side Highway from the Battery Tunnel and park on the west side of Central Park around 75th and walk across the park to the East side. When you leave, just take the Lincoln Tunnel.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I’ll be returning to Long Island from Virginia on Marathon Sunday. What time does the Verrazano reopen? Should I just forget about it altogether and stay on the Jersey Turnpike to the George Washington Bridge and the Cross Bronx (which I really dislike)?
Adeline, Long Island
Dear Adeline,
Forget it (unless returning in the late afternoon or evening)! The bridge may re-open around 3 p.m., but the residual delays are what’ll get you. If you must travel during those hours, your way is ok or follow a shorter detour: the Holland Tunnel to the Manhattan or Williamsburg Bridges to the Brooklyn Queens Expressway eastbound to the Long Island Expressway.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
My future wife and I are getting married on Marathon Sunday at the Staten Island Hilton Garden Inn. We’re very concerned about our relatives and other guests, who will be using the Verrazano Bridge traveling from Brooklyn. The ceremony and reception is scheduled to start at noon. No one seems to know what the closures will be. Please help!
Ruth/Ken via e-mail
Dear Ruth and Ken,
You should’ve hired me as your wedding planner! I would’ve told you to pick another date. Typically, the entire bridge closes around 7 a.m. till 3 p.m. Marathon Day or when the last runner has crossed plus clean-up. That being said, your options are; A. take the Staten Island Ferry from Manhattan (1, 4, 5, R trains) B. crash in Staten Island the night before C. use one of the three NJ to Staten Island bridges.
Gridlock Sam
Dear Gridlock Sam,
I need to get to Newark International Airport on Sunday, the day of the NYC Marathon, from Brooklyn. I know portions of the Verrazano Bridge are closed for the start around 6 a.m., but I need to be on the road by 6:30 a.m. What’s the best way to get to the airport?
Elena, Bay Ridge
Dear Elena,
I’ll tell you one thing; JFK Airport would’ve been a lot easier. If the closures follow years past and they 99 percent will, the bridge closures should be as follows; upper level both ways 12:01 a.m. to 3 p.m.; S.I.-bound lower level 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Brooklyn-bound lower level 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Since you’re leaving at 6:30 a.m. from Bay Ridge you may luck out and get across in time. But, I’ve seen the police close roads before their stated time. So here’s your Plan B: Take the Northbound Gowanus at 86th St. to the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel and up the West Side Highway (West St.) to Canal, turn right and head to the Holland Tunnel. From there, take either Routes 1 & 9 or, if you’re not familiar with the roads, take the NJ Turnpike straight to the airport.
Gridlock Sam
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