Police Presence High in Times Square for New Year's Eve

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Police Checkpoint at 43rd and 8th avenue in Times Square.

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Police presence is high in the afternoon before the huge mega-watt New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.  Over a million are expected to attended the iconic ball drop on an unusually warm 50 degree day in New York City.

By 3 pm, police had already clearly the Times Square bow-tie area between 42nd and 47th avenues and set up roadblocks and barricades, restricting traffic flow into the area.

Revelers are currently being directed to 47th street event entrance where they will go through a police checkpoint and undergo a bag check and security screening before being allowed into the holding area.

If planning to attend the event, it is recommended that you arrive early, avoid Times Square and Port Authority subway stops and use 9th or 10th Avenues on the West Side or 5th avenue on the east side to avoid the huge crowds filling the sidewalks in and around Times Square.

The event kicks off officially at 6 pm with the raising of the ball atop 1 Times Square and will conclude with fireworks and a confetti drop shortly after midnight.

Planning on attending?  Check out updated tips on how to navigate security and subways in and around Times Square here.