USPS confirms iconic blue collection boxes will be sealed for 48 hours along major New York City streets

New York – The United States Postal Service is preparing to temporarily shut down a number of its familiar blue collection boxes in New York City this weekend as officials take extra safety measures during a major road race on Fifth Avenue.

The temporary closures are scheduled to begin Saturday, September 12, and continue through Monday, September 14. During that period, customers will not be able to use the affected collection boxes to drop off letters and other mail.

The areas affected are on both sides of Fifth Avenue between East 59th Street and East 82nd Street. The closures are tied to an event organized by the New York Road Runners, which is expected to bring thousands of runners and spectators to the busy Manhattan corridor.

The race is an iconic one-mile event held along Fifth Avenue. With large crowds expected along the route, USPS said its collection boxes will be sealed or temporarily removed to help maintain safety and security in the area.

In a statement USPS said: “In the interest of safety and security, postal officials will temporarily seal or remove Postal Service collection boxes on Saturday, September 12, in New York City.

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“The familiar blue collection boxes will be inaccessible until they are reopened on Monday, September 14.

“US Mail Collection Boxes impacted at the following locations:
Both sides of 5th Ave between East 59th Street and East 82nd Street.

“For additional locations to deposit mail, customers are directed to usps.com and to use Quick Tools to Find Locations.

“Use the dropdown for collection boxes or post offices to find alternate locations for secure mail deposits in the immediate area.”

For people who normally rely on one of the affected boxes, the temporary closure means they will need to find another location to send their mail. USPS is directing customers to its website, where they can use the location search tools to identify other collection boxes or post offices nearby.

The move is not unusual for the Postal Service when large public events are expected to create crowded streets or require additional security measures. Blue collection boxes have previously been temporarily sealed or removed in New York City during major parades and public gatherings.

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In May, collection boxes were closed ahead of the annual Asian and Pacific Islander Parade in the city. Another temporary closure took place in June during the 69th Puerto Rican Parade Day.

The latest shutdown is expected to affect only the specified stretch of Fifth Avenue. Customers outside that area will continue to have access to other USPS collection points, while those traveling through the affected streets are being advised to plan ahead.

The blue mailboxes have long been a recognizable part of New York City streets, but their temporary removal during major events is part of the Postal Service’s effort to reduce potential safety and security concerns.

Once the road race and related activity have passed, USPS expects the affected collection boxes to become accessible again on Monday, September 14. Until then, customers with mail to send are encouraged to check for alternate drop-off locations before heading to their usual box.