GRIDLOCK SAM

FRIDAY, SEPT. 4 – SUNDAY, SEPT. 6

The forecast calls for sun all weekend and today’s the last big getaway day of the summer so it’ll be slow-going out of the city Friday afternoon for Labor Day weekend. The George Washington, Verrazano, Throgs Neck, and Whitestone will be some of the most congested bridges. Hamptons and North Fork drivers will flood the Queens Midtown Tunnel/LIE, and Sunrise Highway. Count on heavy jams on the Cross Bronx, and the outbound Lincoln and Holland tunnels too. It’s best if you leave before 1 p.m. (for the Hamptons maybe noon if from Manhattan) or after 8 p.m.

Drivers, speed limits are being reduced on nine major streets. New 25 MPH speed limit signs are going up on Riverside Dr. between 165th and 181st streets, Bruckner Blvd. from E. 135th St. to Pelham Bay Park, Flatbush Ave. from Grand Army Plaza to Empire Blvd., and Northern Blvd. from 114th St. to Glenwood St. On Rockaway Blvd., the limit is going from 40 to 35 MPH from 150th Ave. to Third St. The new speed limits will take effect once the signs are installed, and there will be a 60-day grace period for the speed cameras.

Anti-Trump protesters will rally 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday in Union Square Park. Avoid 14th St. and Broadway.

Sunday is the annual procession to honor 9/11 hero Fire Chaplain Mychal Judge and there’ll be rolling traffic closures down Seventh Ave. and Varick St. 8:30 a.m. to noon from 31st to Barclay streets.

The city has expanded its Open Restaurants program to five more streets including Ditmars Blvd. between 33rd and 36th streets and Frederick Douglass Boulevard between 112th and 120th streets. The streets are closed to through traffic 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and this Monday only for Labor Day.

Mailbag:

Dear Gridlock Sam,

I have a temporary registration that’s about to expire and I haven’t received the permanent one in the mail. Has the deadline been extended for temporary registrations too?

Mike Dear Mike,

Yes. Temporary and permanent registrations that expired in March or later have been extended until Sept. 11 under the governor’s current executive order. But, the deadline was only extended by a week this time; previous extensions were for 30 days which makes me think this may be the final one. You may check the mailing status of your registration on the DMV website. Gridlock Sam