If you’re currently sitting in a gridlocked cab or staring at a sea of red brake lights on the West Side Highway, you’re probably asking yourself: Why is there so much traffic in Manhattan today? Honestly, it's a mess.
It isn't just one thing. It's a "perfect storm" of actual snow, massive infrastructure projects, and the start of a holiday weekend that has basically turned the island into a parking lot.
The Snow Factor and the Winter Weather Advisory
Let’s start with the most obvious culprit: the weather. The National Weather Service issued a Winter Weather Advisory for all five boroughs today, Sunday, January 18, 2026. This isn't some massive blizzard, but it’s the first real accumulating snow of the year.
NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) activated the city’s Winter Weather Emergency Plan, and for good reason. Even a few inches of slush makes New York drivers lose their minds. The snow started early—around 5 a.m.—and is expected to keep coming down until at least 8 p.m.
Because the ground was relatively warm before the flakes started, we’re seeing a lot of "black ice" and slippery slush rather than pretty white drifts. This causes everyone to drive at 5 mph, which, in a city with this many cars, creates a massive ripple effect. If you've ever seen how the FDR Drive handles a light dusting, you know it's not pretty.
Timing is everything
The heaviest bursts are expected between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. This is exactly when people are trying to get home or head out for Sunday dinner. If you don't have to be on the road, don't.
✨ Don't miss: Anderson California Explained: Why This Shasta County Hub is More Than a Pit Stop
Major Road Closures and Construction
If the snow wasn't enough, the DOT decided today was the day for some heavy lifting. Literally.
The FDR Drive was fully closed in both directions between 96th Street and 125th Street from 2 a.m. to 7 a.m. today. They were removing the 120th Street Pedestrian overpass. Even though it was supposed to be open by the morning rush, the "tail" of that closure—machinery moving out, traffic agents repositioning—always lingers.
Then you’ve got the smaller, more annoying blockages. A quick look at the DOT weekend advisory shows crane operations scattered everywhere:
- West 65th Street between Columbus and Central Park West is closed until 6 p.m.
- West 20th and 21st Streets near the High Line are blocked for crane work.
- Park Avenue Tunnel at 34th Street is partially closed for flood mitigation.
When you shut down a major artery like the FDR or a busy crosstown street like 65th, the traffic doesn't just disappear. It moves to the next available street, which then gets overwhelmed. It’s like squeezing a balloon; the air just goes somewhere else.
The MLK Weekend Rush
Tomorrow is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday. This means today is effectively the "Sunday" of a long weekend for thousands of visitors.
🔗 Read more: Flights to Chicago O'Hare: What Most People Get Wrong
Manhattan is currently packed with tourists who came in for the weekend. Many of them are staying for events like the MLK Day Concert at Brick Presbyterian Church or heading to BAM in Brooklyn for the tributes there.
There's also the "Hotel Week" and "Restaurant Week" overlap. NYC Tourism + Conventions has these promos running, which means more people are driving into the city to take advantage of $30 and $45 lunch specials. More people + fewer open lanes = a total nightmare.
Subway Meltdowns Forcing People into Ubers
Usually, when the roads are bad, you take the train. But the MTA is having a particularly rough weekend.
The 4 and 5 lines are basically gutted in certain sections. There’s no service between 149 St-Grand Concourse in the Bronx and 125 St in Manhattan. They’re replacing switches that have been there since 1988. When the 4/5 isn't running right, the Upper East Side becomes a sea of people trying to hail Ubers or crowding onto the 6 train, which is running on a modified, slower schedule.
Also, the A and C trains are skipping a dozen stops in Manhattan for track work, and the R train is doing a weird bypass via Roosevelt Island. When the subway becomes too confusing or slow, people opt for cars. And when thousands of people opt for cars on a snowy day with half the streets closed for cranes, you get exactly what we have today: gridlock.
💡 You might also like: Something is wrong with my world map: Why the Earth looks so weird on paper
Real Talk: How to Get Around
If you absolutely have to move around Manhattan today, here is the reality:
- Trust the L and the 7: These lines are largely unaffected by the major weekend work.
- Avoid the FDR and West Side Highway: Both are seeing significant rubbernecking and weather-related delays.
- Walk if it's under 20 blocks: Honestly, with the current pace of traffic, you will beat a taxi if you're just going from Midtown to Chelsea.
- Use the Revel or Citi Bike (if you're brave): The slush makes this risky, but it’s often the only thing moving.
What to Do Next
Keep an eye on the Notify NYC app. They’ve been pinging alerts all morning about the snow and the FDR detours. If you are driving, use a real-time app like Waze, but take their "estimated time of arrival" with a huge grain of salt. Add at least 30-45 minutes to any trip across 42nd, 57th, or 14th Streets.
Check the MTA’s Weekender site before you head to a subway station. Don't assume your "usual" train is running—it probably isn't. If you're heading out of the city tonight, try to leave before 4 p.m. to beat the heaviest snowfall and the evening rush.
Stay safe, watch out for black ice on the bridges, and maybe just stay inside with some delivery (and tip your driver extra—they’re earning it today).
[/article]