It’s been in the works since early this year, but now the pedestrianization of Times Square in midtown New York City is a reality. The intersection of grid-friendly 7th Avenue and angled Broadway has been altered to make much of Times Square a pedestrian zone.
Herald Square, in front of Macy’s where Broadway crosses the Avenue of the Americas (6th Avenue), is also partially closed to create another pedestrian zone complete with tables and chairs.
With the closings on Sunday, during the Memorial Day weekend, the pedestrian malls in Times Square and Herald Square will be open to the public for the full summer season. The areas are to be outfitted with tables, benches and other amenities and they are to play host to special events, including a simulcast of the Tony Awards on June 7. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-August.
Broadway from 47th Street to 42nd Street and from 35th Street to 33rd Street will be closed to vehicles, with all traffic diverted to Seventh Avenue.
The city has taken the extra step of hiring an array of musicians, magicians and other performers to keep lunchtime crowds in the area.
I lived in New York for two years and have seen the Times Square area rise from a prostitution infested intersection with dozens of peep shows to a business center and tourist attraction over the past two decades. This closure of Broadway that slices across the area will create another central city magnet that will be enjoyed by New Yorkers and visitors alike.
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