GRIDLOCK SAM

FRI., SEPT. 25 – SUN., SEPT. 27 ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Outrage remains high over the grand jury decision in the death of Breonna Taylor and it’ll fuel protests all weekend. The Brooklyn and Manhattan bridges will be two of the hottest hot spots Friday and Saturday.

There’ll be two Black Lives Matters marches starting near the bridges at Brooklyn Borough Hall at Fulton and Court streets noon Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Prior to Wednesday’s grand jury ruling, a bikers BLM protest was planned to start 6 p.m. Friday at Grand Army Plaza and go over the Manhattan Bridge. I’m not sure if that one is still on, but I suggest the Battery Tunnel or the Williamsburg Bridge if you’re driving between Brooklyn and Manhattan rush hour Friday.

Other spots to avoid this weekend include four Manhattan “squares” — Foley, Washington, Union, and Times — Trump Tower on Fifth Ave. near 56th St., Barclays Center near Flatbush and Atlantic avenues, and McCarren Park near Manhattan and Driggs avenues.

Holland Tunnel Alert! One of two lanes on Rte. 1 & 9 Truck will be closed in each direction between Kearny and Newark from 8 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Monday. Traffic has increased there with the higher tolls on the Turnpike, and even though it’s the weekend, you’ll see significant effects on the NJ Turnpike Extension. Eastbound and northbound traffic in the area could get backed up to Newark Airport. Lincoln Tunnel will be a better bet at most times. Fortunately, no football at the Meadowlands this weekend, oops, doesn’t matter in the Covid-19 age.

Bikers and walkers will rally for more space on the Ed Koch Queensboro Bridge 10 a.m. to noon Sunday starting near the Manhattan side, 59th St. near First Ave.

Mailbag:

Dear Gridlock Sam,

My spouse received his new “senior MetroCard” and we’ve been trying to transfer the money from the old card to his new card. The man at the Kings Highway booth would only give me an envelope to send back the card to get a check. Why? J.L., Brooklyn

Dear J.L.,

The M.T.A. is limiting contact at the booths because of the pandemic. As an alternative to the mail, you can also transfer the money to the new card at one of their mobile vans, which resumed operations this month, The MTA web site has the schedule of when a van will be near you, or you may make an online appointment to visit their service center near 2 Broadway.