GRIDLOCK SAM

Fri. July 1 -Sun. July 3

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY BUT SEE BOTTOM OF COLUMN

Getaway Friday! This star-spangled holiday weekend will kick off with jams region-wide; the Port Authority is projecting traffic volumes on bridges and tunnels will be similar to 2 0 1 9 . Starting Friday around 2 p.m., anticipate slow going on the GW Bridge, Cross-Bronx, Lincoln Tunnel, LIE, N.J. Turnpike, Goethals, and VZ bridges. Roads by airports including the GCP, Van Wyck, and Belt will also be packed; flyers, allow an extra half-hour so you don’t miss your flight. Remember that the Q7 0 LaGuardia Link bus is now fare-free year-round.

If you can, taking the train is preferable to getting on the roads. LIRR, Metro-North, and New Jersey Transit will all be running extra service on Friday afternoon.

The International African Arts Festival runs Friday through Monday, 1 0 a.m. to 9 p.m., at Commodore Barry Park; watch for impacts to Park Ave., Navy St., and Flushing Ave.

The Children’s Patriot Parade kicks off Saturday at 1 0 a.m. in Breezy Point. The Parade begins at Olive Walk and the Promenade, continuing along the Promenade to Reid Ave. The Indonesian Food Festival will take place from 1 1 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Broadway and Corona Ave.

Sunday, the Brooklyn American Independence Day Parade commences at 5 9 St. between Fifth Ave. and Sixth Ave. at 1 1 :3 0 a.m., continuing along Fifth to 4 3 rd St. The Pulse Festival of Music runs from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Brooklyn’s Pier 4 (5 8 th St. off of First Ave.).

The Rangers face the Mets on Friday at 7 p.m., Saturday at 4 p.m., and Sunday at 1 :3 0 p.m.

Queens Plaza South will be closed between 2 1 st St. and 2 2 nd St., 1 0 a.m. to 3 :3 0 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for the next two weekends. Bedford Ave. will be shut between South Fourth St. and South Fifth St., 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Friday at 1 1 :3 0 p.m. to Monday at 5 a.m., there will be no 2 service between Chambers St. and Flatbush Ave. and Brooklyn College, and no 3 service between 1 4 th St. and New Lots Ave. The 5 train will run between the Wakefield-2 4 1 st St. 2 station and Flatbush Ave.-Brooklyn College all weekend.

REMINDER: Alternate Side Parking rules, partially suspended due to the pandemic in March, 2 0 2 0 , will fully resume on Tuesday, July 5 th. That means ASP will be in effect on every day listed on the sign.