Law enforcement agencies are preparing for a 72-hour river shutdown in Pittsburgh during the NFL draft, starting at midnight Thursday and lasting until 11:59 p.m. Saturday.Waterways Conservation Officer Matthew Scott said there will be about a dozen law enforcement vessels securing this area near the North Shore and Point State Park. It is something they say they have spent the last year getting ready for.The rivers will be closed to all traffic between the Roberto Clemente Bridge on the Allegheny River, Rivers Casino on the Ohio River and the Fort Pitt Bridge on the Monongahela River. “We got it cleaned and prepped and loaded with gear, ready to go,” Scott said as he launched one of two Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission vessels that will patrol the area. “We’re just going to basically take it out, make sure everything’s running properly, give her a nice stretch after the wintertime.”Scott said they will assist the U.S. Coast Guard, Pennsylvania State Police and the city of Pittsburgh with securing the Three Rivers confluence.He said that all boats, including commercial traffic, will be prohibited from entering the security area unless they have prior permission from the Coast Guard. The only exception will be the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which will transport fans to the draft.”The security zone is no recreational vessels,” Scott said.”In addition to enforcing the security zone, we will be looking out for boaters that are impaired, under the influence of alcohol, any sort of narcotic drugs, that kind of thing,” he said.Inside the zone, Scott warned, “If you attempt to enter the zone while on a boat, you will be stopped.” The river shutdown begins at midnight Thursday, and the security zone will reopen at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night.

PITTSBURGH —

Law enforcement agencies are preparing for a 72-hour river shutdown in Pittsburgh during the NFL draft, starting at midnight Thursday and lasting until 11:59 p.m. Saturday.

Waterways Conservation Officer Matthew Scott said there will be about a dozen law enforcement vessels securing this area near the North Shore and Point State Park. It is something they say they have spent the last year getting ready for.

The rivers will be closed to all traffic between the Roberto Clemente Bridge on the Allegheny River, Rivers Casino on the Ohio River and the Fort Pitt Bridge on the Monongahela River.

“We got it cleaned and prepped and loaded with gear, ready to go,” Scott said as he launched one of two Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission vessels that will patrol the area. “We’re just going to basically take it out, make sure everything’s running properly, give her a nice stretch after the wintertime.”

Scott said they will assist the U.S. Coast Guard, Pennsylvania State Police and the city of Pittsburgh with securing the Three Rivers confluence.

He said that all boats, including commercial traffic, will be prohibited from entering the security area unless they have prior permission from the Coast Guard. The only exception will be the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which will transport fans to the draft.

“The security zone is no recreational vessels,” Scott said.

“In addition to enforcing the security zone, we will be looking out for boaters that are impaired, under the influence of alcohol, any sort of narcotic drugs, that kind of thing,” he said.

Inside the zone, Scott warned, “If you attempt to enter the zone while on a boat, you will be stopped.”

The river shutdown begins at midnight Thursday, and the security zone will reopen at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night.