Major and local roads close in Queens as U.S. Open draws more than 1 million fans

NYPD officials say they have plans in place to keep traffic moving and ensure spectators' safety as a record-breaking more than 1 million fans are expected to flock to the U.S. Open in Queens over the next couple of weeks.

“We urge everyone … to use our trains and buses, because they’re the safest and fastest way to travel, the most official way to travel to the U.S. Open,” NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban said at a press conference on Monday morning.

The U.S. Open is taking place at the Billie Jean King Tennis Center in Flushing, Queens. The city’s Department of Transportation says several closures affecting major and local roadways will take effect at the NYPD's discretion from from Monday, Aug. 26 through Sunday, Sept. 8.

The entire lengths of the following arterial roadways are subject to closures: the Grand Central Parkway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, Cross Island Parkway, Long Island Expressway, Whitestone Expressway and Van Wyck Expressway.

Several local roadways will also be affected, according to city officials:

• Northern Boulevard between Junction Boulevard and Clearview Expressway.
• Roosevelt Avenue between Main and 104th streets.
• College Point Boulevard between 31st Avenue and Horace Harding Boulevard.
• 126th Street/Seaver Way between Roosevelt Avenue and Northern Boulevard.
• 111th Street/Saultell Avenue between Roosevelt Avenue and Horace Harding Boulevard.
• Astoria Boulevard between RFK Bridge Plaza and 114th Street.
• Shea Road between 126th Street/Seaver Way and Meridian Road.
• Meridian Road (entire length).

The MTA has a guide to getting to the tennis center on public transit for the U.S. Open. The transit agency will also run extra service on the 7 line and Long Island Rail Road. The $5-to-$7 fare on the LIRR will bring riders to the front entrance of the tennis courts, while the 7 train requires a seven-minute walk across the Flushing Meadows Pedestrian Bridge.

NYPD officials said they will step up safety patrols on public transportation and virtually everywhere else during the tennis championship, out of an abundance of caution.

“There are no specific or credible threats to the U.S. Open — however, we’re in a different threat environment than we were last year at this time,” said Rebecca Weiner, the department's deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. “We are mindful of what’s happening around the world.”

Weiner also said police would not tolerate any “disruption or illegal activity” at the tournament, including protests that interrupt the scheduled events.

The NYPD will patrol the area with uniformed footposts, screening checkpoints, bike teams, drones, canine units and counterterrorism teams, Caban said.

“If you’re here at the U.S. Open and you see anything that doesn’t look right or feel right, call 911 or tell a police officer right away,” he said. “Public safety is everyone’s responsibility, especially at large-scale events like this.”

Charles Lane contributed reporting.