GRIDLOCK SAM
FRI., JUNE 9 - SUN., JUNE 11 ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY
The Belmont Stakes on Saturday means it’ll be off to the races, though not on the Cross Island Parkway. No need to drive with the LIRR adding 21 extra trains between 9:30 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. to Belmont Park. Note: You must hold Belmont Park tickets for service to the track that day (monthly passes, however, will be honored for trains heading to transfer stations, i.e. Jamaica).
If you do plan to drive in the vicinity of the race track, avoid the Cross Island Parkway all afternoon from the Grand Central Parkway to the Southern State Parkway. Roads will move most slowly leading up to the Belmont Stakes race, at 6:30 p.m.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., the National Puerto Rican Day Parade, one of NYC’s biggest, will cause Upper East Side and Midtown traffic to crawl for the day. The festivities will shut down Fifth Ave. between 44th and 85th Sts.; 44th through 48th Sts. between Madison and Sixth Aves.; and 79th through 83rd Sts. between Fifth and Park Aves. This year’s parade is controversial, with Puerto Rican national independence activist Oscar López Rivera in attendance. Expect possible demonstrations along the route.
At Yankee Stadium, the Bombers will take the Orioles Friday at 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
Also Saturday: The Big Apple Barbecue Block Party, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. will close Madison Ave. between 23rd and 28th Sts., and 24th to 27th Sts. between Fifth and Park, from midnight Saturday to 8 p.m. Sunday.
The Brooklyn Pride 5K race, festival, and twilight parade, from 10 a.m. and 9 p.m., will shut down Fifth Ave. between Sterling Pl. and 9th St., and 9th St. between Fourth and Sixth Aves.
The 116th Street Festival will take over between Lexington and Second Aves., and on Third Ave., between 106th and 122nd Sts. , from noon to 2 p.m.
The NYRR Mini 10K race will run along Central Park West, between 61st and 90th Sts., from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m.
The Hare Krishna Parade will proceed down the east side of Fifth Ave. ,from noon to 2 p.m., between 45th St. and Washington Square North.
On Sunday, the Tony Awards will be held at Radio City Music Hall triggering traffic turbulence as early as 5 p.m. I’ll have more Sunday news in my Sunday column.
Sam Schwartz is a former city first deputy transportation commissioner. Gridlock Sam is published Friday and Sunday. If you have a traffic question, please write to: Gridlock Sam, N.Y. Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10004, or info@gridlocksam.com