New York City is gearing up for America’s 250th birthday this weekend. The harbor will host an incredible display of flyovers, fireworks, and tall ships. Over 48 massive Navy vessels are also cruising up the Hudson River.
While the celebrations will be unforgettable, commuting might be a headache. The Coast Guard has ordered massive ferry closures to make way for the naval fleet.
Staten Island Ferry closures
If you plan to use the Staten Island Ferry on Saturday, July 4, you will need to adjust your schedule. The Department of Transportation is shutting down the ferry twice during the holiday.
Service will be suspended from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It will shut down again later that night from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The DOT will post any exact timing changes on social media and inside the terminals.
NYC Ferry disruptions begin Friday
The NYC Ferry is also taking a massive hit this weekend. The East River Tall Ships parade kicks off on Friday, July 3.
From 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Friday, all stops on the East River A, East River B, Astoria, and South Brooklyn routes are suspended. The Rockaway-Soundview route will also skip Ferry Point Park, Soundview, East 90th Street, and Stuyvesant Cove during that window. Service will still run at Wall Street/Pier 11, Sunset Park, and Rockaway.
On Saturday, July 4, the St. George route and the Governors Island shuttle will not run at all. All other NYC Ferry service will completely shut down by 3:00 p.m. for the holiday celebrations.
Expect heavier crowds and security at the landings through July 9. Several docks, including St. George, are acting as launch points for U.S. and foreign naval sailors.
Alternate ways to get around
Officials strongly recommend avoiding driving. The holiday celebrations are expected to cause severe gridlock traffic across the city.
Instead, the MTA is adding extra buses to help stranded ferry riders. You can expect enhanced service on the SIM1C, SIM3C, SIM4C, and SIM33C express routes. Extra buses will also run on the S53 and S79 SBS local routes.
