GRIDLOCK SAM

Sunday, July 3 - Saturday, July 9

SUNDAY PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT MONDAY, JULY 4TH; ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES WILL BE SUSPENDED SATURDAY, IDUL-ADHA (EID AL-ADHA)

The rocket’s red glare will light up New York City’s skies on Monday. Macy’s fireworks start on the East River at 9:25 p.m., bringing traffic on the Queensboro, Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn Bridges to a standstill, and causing slowdowns along the Brooklyn Queens Expressway in Brooklyn Heights, the crest of the Gowanus a half-mile south of the Battery, and the crest of the Kosciuszko Bridge. Expect extra activity on streets along the Brooklyn and Queens waterfronts, especially close to the viewing areas: Gantry Plaza State Park, Transmitter Park, Bushwick Inlet Park, and Marsha P. Johnson State Park.

Spectators will start gathering several hours before the big show; expect closures on the FDR between the Brooklyn and Queensboro Bridges starting at around 3 p.m.

Monday’s weather forecast is fair and warm, which means vacationers will linger at the beach; return traffic from the long weekend will be concentrated in the late afternoon and evening. There will be jams on the George Washington Bridge, the Cross-Bronx Expressway, the Lincoln Tunnel, Long Island Expressway, Goethals, and VZ bridges. Roads by airports including the Grand Central Parkway, the Van Wyck Expressway, and Belt will be slow going.

In Staten Island, the Travis 4th of July Parade kicks off Monday at 12:30 p.m. Starting at Showplace Center, the parade heads north on Glen St. and Cannon Ave., then south on Victory Blvd. back to the start point.

REMINDER: Alternate side parking rules, partially suspended due to the pandemic, will fully resume this week. It will be in effect on every day listed on the sign.

MAILBAG Dear Gridlock Sam,

I have my EZPass set to automatically replenish, but I sometimes wind up with negative balances anyway. What gives?Anon

Dear Anon,

In most cases this won’t be a problem since you have automatic replenishing. However, E-ZPass is accepted up and down the East Coast, and some state agencies will stop you when you have a negative balance and make you go through a toll booth (if they still have them). You don’t want this to happen when you’re on vacation.

EZPass uses your toll records to calculate what minimum balance should be maintained on your account, and replenishes accordingly. Call them and ask to raise the minimum.