GRIDLOCK SAM

FRI. DEC. 4 - SUN., DEC. 6

ALTERNATE SIDE PARKING RULES ARE IN EFFECT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY

Friday is an official NYC Gridlock Alert Day, which means the city is expecting a surge in traffic. Gridlock Sam advises all readers to consider leaving the car at home and using transit as a way to reduce traffic congestion. The tree is now lit meaning slowdowns on Fifth Ave at 51 St. as drivers try to get a peek from their SUVs. Ped lock around Rock Center will spill over to Sixth Avenue as well. It’ll be no fun getting crosstown on 49th thru 51st Sts. Rockettes around the clock with five shows Friday, six on Saturday, and another five Sunday adds to the traffic woes.

New York teams are busy this weekend:

Subway series at Madison Square Garden! The Knicks play the Nets 7 p.m. Friday. The Rangers go up against the Senators 7 p.m. Sunday. Both events, especially Friday’s, will add to slowdowns on Seventh and Eighth Aves. at 33rd and 34th Sts.

Battle at the Meadowlands! The Jets and Giants face off 1 p.m. Sunday at MetLife Stadium. Expect Giant (and Jet) sized traffic jams in the Lincoln Tunnel, on the George Washington Bridge and on routes 3 and 120, as well as the Western Spur of NJ Turnpike.

The Islanders and the Blues go head to head 7:30 p.m. Friday at Barclays. A boxing match 4:30 p.m. Saturday between Danny Jacobs vs. Peter Quillin will draw crowds. The Rangers play the Warriors 6 p.m. Sunday. Expect pre- and post-event traffic on Atlantic and Flatbush Aves.

On the Brooklyn Bridge, all Manhattan-bound lanes will close midnight Friday to 7 a.m. Saturday and midnight Saturday to 9 a.m. Sunday. Detoured drivers from this closure and the Battery Tunnel means more traffic on the Manhattan and Williamsburg bridges.

One tube of the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel will close 9 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday. Two-way traffic will run in the other tube.

The Hope Christmas Parade in Queens will close eastbound traffic on 130th St. between Foch and Rockaway Blvds., and Rockaway Blvd. between 130th and 143rd Sts. 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sunday.

The Gridlock Sam 2016 Parking Calendar is almost here! For more info, follow me on Twitter @ GridlockSam, or check the website www.GridlockSam.com.

Traffic question? Write to: Gridlock Sam, N.Y. Daily News, 4 New York Plaza, New York, N.Y. 10004, or info@gridlocksam.com