So the barriers where put there to protect the pedestrians from traffic?
Cindy,
Glad to see you're still here! Thought we lost you after the last disruption. Please stay with us, you always post good info.
I haven't been in town since the barriers went up. From what I understand, however, the barriers are there to control pedestrian traffic around Madison Square Garden/Penn Plaza, which is the location of the Pub convention. Although the convention is still a month away, LEO doesn't want to wait until the eve of the convention to put up the barriers because that would really create a mess between the newbies in town for the convention trying to negotiate unfamiliar territory and the regulars who walk the route every day and just want to get to their job, train, home, etc. By puitting the barriers up now, the regulars will have a chance to adjust before the out-of- towners show up.