This Weekend's Debut of Mayor Bloomberg's Broadway Pedestrian Walkway

This Sunday evening, for the Memorial Day Weekend, Mayor Michael Bloomberg's effort to reduce traffic congestion in Midtown will be taking another "big step" as he plans to close several new blocks of Broadway to vehicle traffic through Times Square and Herald Square, a project that would turn sections of the Great White Way into wide reaching pedestrian malls.

The New York Times reports that the area will be outfitted with "tables, benches and other amenities" for the hosting of special events, including the simulcasting of the 2009 Tony Awards on June 7th. 

The city will be shutting Broadway down from 47th Street down to 42nd Street and from 35th to 33rd Street beginning late Sunday night as part of Bloomberg's experiment to make the city more pedestrian friendly. Broadway buses will be diverted to new routes on 7th avenue and motorists traveling southbound will be able to continue through Times Square using 7th Avenue. All cross-town streets remain open. 

Reports say that traffic will flow 17% faster on Seventh Avenue, and 66% faster on Sixth Avenue because of the changes.  

Theatre insiders believe the plan would be positive for the industry as it would offer audience members a welcoming environment in what is now considered  a crowded and stressful location.

The renovation of Father Duffy Square, the creation of the red steps and the TKTS booth, located at the intersection of Broadway and 7th Avenue at 46th Street, was overseen by the Times Square Alliance, the Theatre Development Fund and the Coalition for Father Duffy. 

Since its opening the red steps in Times Square have become an instant gathering place for a whole host of events including Election day, the inauguration of President Barack Obama, the Tony Awards announcement and more. 

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.