Road closures in downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore were set to begin Tuesday night, primarily affecting ramps to the Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt bridges.The closures aim to limit access to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, which passes directly by the main stage for the NFL Draft outside Acrisure Stadium.Brian Schmidt, senior vice president of operations for P3R, said the closures are designed with safety in mind.“The Fort Duquesne Bridge is not closed throughout the event,” Schmidt said. “It’s just that perimeter that for safety is put in place, so there will be police stationed up there to keep traffic moving, just like we see on Fourth of July. We don’t want traffic stopping on the bridge, to keep traffic flowing throughout the event.”NFL Draft in Pittsburgh >> Visit our special draft page for latest headlines and what you need to know about the draftSchmidt also advised visitors to plan ahead and allow extra time to navigate the city during the closures. “As people come in tomorrow, they are going to experience a different way of travel than they’re used to — some lane restrictions, some ramp closures, road closures — so just want to make sure you give yourself some time,” Schmidt said. Local residents are adjusting their plans to accommodate the closures. “I have my car. So it’s like, don’t leave, don’t use your car, use public transportation if you’re going to, because of all the road closures and then all the people coming in,” said McKenna Cinotte. Philip Russo shared his strategy for getting downtown. “I plan on taking the T down on Saturday or the bus. I don’t want to drive, but yeah, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and the city looks great right now,” Russo added. Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.For those navigating the closures, PennDOT and the NFL have provided tools and maps to assist with traffic during the draft. The following closures will be in place until the draft ends: Southbound Route 65 ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Northbound I-279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge) ramp to northbound Route 65. 10th Street Bypass ramp to the I-279 Portal Bridge. Eastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A). Liberty Avenue to I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge). Allegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue/Reedsdale Street ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge.The following detours will be in place:Southbound I-279 (Parkway North) ramp the North Shore (Exit 1B) No detour route will be provided as all local roadways off the exit are closed to traffic. However, the ramp will reopen to traffic for specific Pirate games listed below.Northbound I-279 (Upper deck of the Fort Duquesne Bridge) left-hand ramp to the North Shore (Reedsdale Street – Exit 1B) No detour route will be provided as all local roadways off the exit are closed to traffic.Southbound Route 65 ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge From southbound Route 65, continue straight onto the ramp to North 28/North 279/Truck North 19 Merge onto northbound I-279 (Parkway North) Take the Hazlett Street (Exit 3) off-ramp Turn left onto East Street Turn right onto the ramp to southbound I-279 at Venture Street Follow I-279 southbound back to the Fort Duquesne Bridge End detourNorthbound I-279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge) to northbound Route 65 From the upper deck of the Fort Duquesne Bridge, continue to North 28/279 From northbound I-279 (Parkway North), take the ramp to North 28 toward Chestnut Street/East Ohio Street/Etna (Exit 1D) From northbound Route 28, take the left-hand off-ramp to North 279 toward East Ohio Street At the traffic light, turn left onto East Ohio Street Turn left onto the ramp to southbound I-279 From southbound I-279 take the ramp to North 65 toward Ohio River Boulevard (Exit 1C) End detour10th Street Bypass to the I-279 Portal Bridge From westbound 10th Street Bypass, turn left onto Fort Duquesne Boulevard Turn left onto 9th Street Turn right onto Liberty Avenue Turn left onto Stanwix Street Take the ramp to West 376 toward the Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport End detourEastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A) From eastbound I-376, take the ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Bridge/PPG Arena (Exit 70A) Take the ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies Turn left onto Stanwix Street Follow Stanwix Street to Liberty Avenue End detourLiberty Avenue to westbound I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge) From Liberty Avenue, turn left onto Stanwix Street Take the ramp to West 376 toward the Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport End detourAllegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue/Reedsdale Street ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge No detour route will be provided as Allegheny Avenue and Reedsdale Street will be closed. Ridge Avenue will remain open. Drivers can access southbound Route 65 at the West End Bridge interchange.Additional items of note: Line striping work will occur on Monday, April 20, on the northbound (upper deck) Fort Duquesne Bridge. The new two-lane traffic configuration will be implemented when the striping operations are complete. The I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge sidewalk will close to pedestrian traffic on Wednesday, April 22. The northbound I-279 (Parkway North) ramp to northbound Route 28 (Ramp 1D) will be modified to two lanes of traffic. Lane restrictions will occur throughout the draft in both directions of the Portal Bridge, which spans a portion of Point State Park. For those visiting Pittsburgh, the section of I-279 (Parkway North) just north of the Fort Duquesne Bridge is occasionally referred to as the North Shore Expressway.

PITTSBURGH —

Road closures in downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore were set to begin Tuesday night, primarily affecting ramps to the Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt bridges.

The closures aim to limit access to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, which passes directly by the main stage for the NFL Draft outside Acrisure Stadium.

Brian Schmidt, senior vice president of operations for P3R, said the closures are designed with safety in mind.

“The Fort Duquesne Bridge is not closed throughout the event,” Schmidt said. “It’s just that perimeter that for safety is put in place, so there will be police stationed up there to keep traffic moving, just like we see on Fourth of July. We don’t want traffic stopping on the bridge, to keep traffic flowing throughout the event.”

NFL Draft in Pittsburgh >> Visit our special draft page for latest headlines and what you need to know about the draft

Schmidt also advised visitors to plan ahead and allow extra time to navigate the city during the closures.

“As people come in tomorrow, they are going to experience a different way of travel than they’re used to — some lane restrictions, some ramp closures, road closures — so just want to make sure you give yourself some time,” Schmidt said.

Local residents are adjusting their plans to accommodate the closures.

“I have my car. So it’s like, don’t leave, don’t use your car, use public transportation if you’re going to, because of all the road closures and then all the people coming in,” said McKenna Cinotte.

Philip Russo shared his strategy for getting downtown.

“I plan on taking the T down on Saturday or the bus. I don’t want to drive, but yeah, I think it’s going to be a lot of fun, and the city looks great right now,” Russo added.

Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.

For those navigating the closures, PennDOT and the NFL have provided tools and maps to assist with traffic during the draft.

The following closures will be in place until the draft ends:

Southbound Route 65 ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge. Northbound I-279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge) ramp to northbound Route 65. 10th Street Bypass ramp to the I-279 Portal Bridge. Eastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A). Liberty Avenue to I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge). Allegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue/Reedsdale Street ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge.

The following detours will be in place:

Southbound I-279 (Parkway North) ramp the North Shore (Exit 1B)

No detour route will be provided as all local roadways off the exit are closed to traffic. However, the ramp will reopen to traffic for specific Pirate games listed below.

Northbound I-279 (Upper deck of the Fort Duquesne Bridge) left-hand ramp to the North Shore (Reedsdale Street – Exit 1B)

No detour route will be provided as all local roadways off the exit are closed to traffic.

Southbound Route 65 ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge

From southbound Route 65, continue straight onto the ramp to North 28/North 279/Truck North 19 Merge onto northbound I-279 (Parkway North) Take the Hazlett Street (Exit 3) off-ramp Turn left onto East Street Turn right onto the ramp to southbound I-279 at Venture Street Follow I-279 southbound back to the Fort Duquesne Bridge End detour

Northbound I-279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge) to northbound Route 65

From the upper deck of the Fort Duquesne Bridge, continue to North 28/279 From northbound I-279 (Parkway North), take the ramp to North 28 toward Chestnut Street/East Ohio Street/Etna (Exit 1D) From northbound Route 28, take the left-hand off-ramp to North 279 toward East Ohio Street At the traffic light, turn left onto East Ohio Street Turn left onto the ramp to southbound I-279 From southbound I-279 take the ramp to North 65 toward Ohio River Boulevard (Exit 1C) End detour

10th Street Bypass to the I-279 Portal Bridge

From westbound 10th Street Bypass, turn left onto Fort Duquesne Boulevard Turn left onto 9th Street Turn right onto Liberty Avenue Turn left onto Stanwix Street Take the ramp to West 376 toward the Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport End detour

Eastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A)

From eastbound I-376, take the ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies/Liberty Bridge/PPG Arena (Exit 70A) Take the ramp to the Boulevard of the Allies Turn left onto Stanwix Street Follow Stanwix Street to Liberty Avenue End detour

Liberty Avenue to westbound I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge)

From Liberty Avenue, turn left onto Stanwix Street Take the ramp to West 376 toward the Fort Pitt Bridge/Airport End detour

Allegheny Avenue/Ridge Avenue/Reedsdale Street ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge

No detour route will be provided as Allegheny Avenue and Reedsdale Street will be closed. Ridge Avenue will remain open. Drivers can access southbound Route 65 at the West End Bridge interchange.

Additional items of note:

Line striping work will occur on Monday, April 20, on the northbound (upper deck) Fort Duquesne Bridge. The new two-lane traffic configuration will be implemented when the striping operations are complete. The I-376 Fort Pitt Bridge sidewalk will close to pedestrian traffic on Wednesday, April 22. The northbound I-279 (Parkway North) ramp to northbound Route 28 (Ramp 1D) will be modified to two lanes of traffic. Lane restrictions will occur throughout the draft in both directions of the Portal Bridge, which spans a portion of Point State Park. For those visiting Pittsburgh, the section of I-279 (Parkway North) just north of the Fort Duquesne Bridge is occasionally referred to as the North Shore Expressway.