Obama, Rockefeller Tree Traffic Alert

Midtown Manhattan is expected to be filled with horrendous traffic as President Obama's trip to New York coincides with the star-studded annual Christmas tree lighting at Rockefeller Center.

The Department of Transportation issued a press release saying that Fifth and Sixth avenues between Wester 48^th St. to 52^nd St. will be closed. All side streets between those blocks will be shut down as well. The NYPD advised drivers to avoid Rockefeller and Radio City Music Hall form 3 p.m. to 11 p.m., reported DNAinfo.com. They encouraged people planning to attend the ceremony to use mass transit as well.

He said it's going to be the gridlock alert day of the decade. And if Sam says don't even think of driving on a gridlock alert day, that especially applies to Wednesday, said traffic expert Gridlock Sam's spokesman Joshua Knoller, according WPIX.

President Obama will be visiting the city in order to attend three fundraisers. He will arrive later tonight at the Wall Street Heliport from Kennedy Airport. Parts of the FDR drive below 63^rd St. are expected to have heavy traffic throughout the night. Expect gridlock and heavy traffic wherever else the President's motorcade travels, according to WPIX.

When his motorcade is on the move, you don't move at all if you are in a car, said Knoller.