2021 Memorial Day Weekend Travel Advisory

On May 28, 2021

With the lifting of broad pandemic-related restrictions across the region, The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey expects more than 4.3 million travelers across its facilities this Memorial Day weekend. To accommodate motorists traveling between New York and New Jersey, many ongoing repairs and construction projects at its crossings will be suspended from Friday, May 28, to Tuesday morning, June 1.

The agency anticipates more than 920,000 passengers will travel through John F. Kennedy International, Newark Liberty International, LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports from Friday through Tuesday, and encourages travelers to allow for additional travel time. Based on recent travel trends, as many as 3.4 million vehicles are expected to cross the Port Authority’s bridges and tunnels over the same holiday weekend period, similar to 2019 actual traffic volumes.

As a reminder for any passengers or motorists traveling through Port Authority facilities, some restrictions and service changes remain in place to protect the health and safety of employees and the public. Face coverings continue to be required for anyone using mass transit regardless of vaccination status. They are required in Port Authority facilities such as PATH trains and stations; the World Trade Center transportation hub; the Midtown Bus Terminal and George Washington Bridge Bus Station; all Port Authority’s airports and on AirTrain.

All Airports:

• Visit the Port Authority’s Travel Tips & Information page here for help preparing for an upcoming trip by air.
• As a reminder, terminal access at John F. Kennedy, Newark Liberty and LaGuardia and New York Stewart International airports is restricted to ticketed passengers, airport employees, and those who otherwise demonstrate a need to enter the facility for airport business. Anyone entering a terminal may be asked to provide evidence of a reason for entry, such as a ticket, boarding pass, flight reservation or comparable item for a flight departing from that particular airport; an airport identification card (airport employee ID); or documentation that a person is a vendor, contractor or otherwise doing authorized business within the terminal.
• TSA has implemented changes to the security screening process that reduce the potential for cross-contamination at the security checkpoint in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Tips on how to make travel easier during the pandemic are available here. Passengers should check the policies of their preferred airline, and visit the CDC’s page for travel guidance, requirements and restrictions.
• COVID-19 tests are available by appointment at all three major airports. For information about test locations and appointment availability, click here for each airport: JFK, Newark Liberty, LaGuardia.
• From Monday, May 24, through Friday, May 28, free COVID-19 vaccines for all employees and travelers are available at JFK and LaGuardia airports in partnership with JetBlue, Delta, Northwell Health and CVS.
• From 12:01 a.m. Thursday, May 27, through 11:59 p.m. Monday, May 31, the Port Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority will offer free LaGuardia Link Q70 Select Bus Service to ease mass transit connections for customers and employees traveling to and from LaGuardia Airport.

George Washington Bridge:

• A ramp to the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway near the George Washington Bridge will remain closed for repairs to a retaining wall. Eastbound motorists exiting at Riverside Drive or heading to the northbound Henry Hudson Parkway are advised to take the upper level of the bridge. Access to the southbound Henry Hudson Parkway remains unaffected.  Westbound motorists are encouraged to exit at 181st Street off the bridge’s lower level for the Henry Hudson Parkway or Riverside Drive.

Holland Tunnel:

• At all hours, the right turn lane from Hudson Street onto Canal Street in Manhattan will be closed.

PATH:

• On Memorial Day, May 31, trains will operate on a Saturday schedule. For more information, including real-time train information, trip planning and PATH alerts, please visit www.panynj.gov/PATH.
• At all hours, the southwest entrance to the PATH Harrison station will be closed to accommodate demolition work ahead of a renovation of the station. During construction, riders will be required to use traffic signal pedestrian crossings at Angelo Cifelli Drive and Guyon Drive to access a corresponding station house on the opposite side of Frank E. Rodgers Boulevard.
• Customers who use the WTC PATH station during overnights should use the entrances at Fulton Street or Vesey Street via the North Concourse in the 2 World Trade Center Transit Lobby. Oculus access will be limited overnight from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. to allow for enhanced cleaning and the safety and security of customers due to reduced traffic volumes. All other entrances will be closed. For more updates on the WTC campus, click here.
• As a reminder, the 9 Street and 23 Street stations are closed from 11 p.m. each night to 5 a.m. the following morning for maintenance. Nearby PATH stations at Christopher Street, 14 Street and 33 Street remain open 24 hours a day unless otherwise noted.
• For information on PATH service and train schedules, visit www.panynj.gov/StayOnTrack or download the PATH mobile app, RidePath.

To access more business news, visit NJB News Now.

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