{"id":172383,"date":"2026-04-22T01:24:06","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:24:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/172383\/"},"modified":"2026-04-22T01:24:06","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T01:24:06","slug":"pittsburgh-road-closures-for-nfl-draft","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/172383\/","title":{"rendered":"Pittsburgh road closures for NFL draft"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tRoad 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.\u201cThe Fort Duquesne Bridge is not closed throughout the event,&#8221; Schmidt said. &#8220;It&#8217;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&#8217;t want traffic stopping on the bridge, to keep traffic flowing throughout the event.&#8221;NFL Draft in Pittsburgh &gt;&gt; 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.  \u201cAs people come in tomorrow, they are going to experience a different way of travel than they\u2019re used to &#8212; some lane restrictions, some ramp closures, road closures &#8212; so just want to make sure you give yourself some time,\u201d Schmidt said.  Local residents are adjusting their plans to accommodate the closures.  \u201cI have my car. So it&#8217;s like, don&#8217;t leave, don&#8217;t use your car, use public transportation if you&#8217;re going to, because of all the road closures and then all the people coming in,\u201d said McKenna Cinotte.   Philip Russo shared his strategy for getting downtown.   \u201cI plan on taking the T down on Saturday or the bus. I don&#8217;t want to drive, but yeah, I think it&#8217;s going to be a lot of fun, and the city looks great right now,\u201d 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 \u2013 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.\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t\tPITTSBURGH \u2014 \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>The closures aim to limit access to the Fort Duquesne Bridge, which passes directly by the main stage for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/draft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">the NFL Draft<\/a> outside Acrisure Stadium.<\/p>\n<p>Brian Schmidt, senior vice president of operations for P3R, said the closures are designed with safety in mind.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe Fort Duquesne Bridge is not closed throughout the event,&#8221; Schmidt said. &#8220;It&#8217;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&#8217;t want traffic stopping on the bridge, to keep traffic flowing throughout the event.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>NFL Draft in Pittsburgh &gt;&gt; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/draft\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Visit our special draft page for latest headlines and what you need to know about the draft<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Schmidt also advised visitors to plan ahead and allow extra time to navigate the city during the closures.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAs people come in tomorrow, they are going to experience a different way of travel than they\u2019re used to &#8212; some lane restrictions, some ramp closures, road closures &#8212; so just want to make sure you give yourself some time,\u201d Schmidt said.  <\/p>\n<p>Local residents are adjusting their plans to accommodate the closures.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have my car. So it&#8217;s like, don&#8217;t leave, don&#8217;t use your car, use public transportation if you&#8217;re going to, because of all the road closures and then all the people coming in,\u201d said McKenna Cinotte.   <\/p>\n<p>Philip Russo shared his strategy for getting downtown.   <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI plan on taking the T down on Saturday or the bus. I don&#8217;t want to drive, but yeah, I think it&#8217;s going to be a lot of fun, and the city looks great right now,\u201d Russo added.  <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/article\/get-pittsburgh-s-action-news-4-on-the-go-wtae\/44045498\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Download the WTAE app<\/a> to stay connected with breaking news. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/subscribe\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Sign up for our email newsletters<\/a> to get breaking news in your inbox.<\/p>\n<p>For those navigating the closures, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wtae.com\/article\/penndot-draft-traffic-live-updates\/71084429\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">PennDOT<\/a> and the <a href=\"https:\/\/go.skimresources.com\/?id=109350X1567041&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nfl.com%2Fdraft%2Fevent-info%2F&amp;sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wtae.com%2Farticle%2Fnfl-draft-road-closures-downtown-pittsburgh-north-shore%2F71089115&amp;xcust=undefined\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">NFL<\/a> have provided tools and maps to assist with traffic during the draft. <\/p>\n<p>The following closures will be in place until the draft ends: <\/p>\n<p> 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.<\/p>\n<p>The following detours will be in place:<\/p>\n<p>Southbound I-279 (Parkway North) ramp the North Shore (Exit 1B)<\/p>\n<p> 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.<\/p>\n<p>Northbound I-279 (Upper deck of the Fort Duquesne Bridge) left-hand ramp to the North Shore (Reedsdale Street \u2013 Exit 1B)<\/p>\n<p> No      detour route will be provided as all local roadways off the exit are      closed to traffic.<\/p>\n<p>Southbound Route 65 ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge<\/p>\n<p> 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<\/p>\n<p>Northbound I-279 (Fort Duquesne Bridge) to northbound Route 65<\/p>\n<p> 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<\/p>\n<p>10th Street Bypass to the I-279 Portal Bridge<\/p>\n<p> 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<\/p>\n<p>Eastbound I-376 ramp to Liberty Avenue (Exit 70A)<\/p>\n<p> 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<\/p>\n<p>Liberty Avenue to westbound I-376 (Fort Pitt Bridge)<\/p>\n<p> From      Liberty Avenue, turn left onto Stanwix Street Take      the ramp to West 376 toward the Fort Pitt Bridge\/Airport End      detour<\/p>\n<p>Allegheny Avenue\/Ridge Avenue\/Reedsdale Street ramp to the Fort Duquesne Bridge<\/p>\n<p> 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.<\/p>\n<p>Additional items of note:<\/p>\n<p> 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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Road closures in downtown Pittsburgh and the North Shore were set to begin Tuesday night, primarily affecting ramps&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":172384,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[4623,7562,3537,14131,73,75,74,4081],"class_list":{"0":"post-172383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-pittsburgh","8":"tag-downtown-pittsburgh","9":"tag-fort-duquesne-bridge","10":"tag-nfl-draft","11":"tag-north-shore","12":"tag-pittsburgh","13":"tag-pittsburgh-headlines","14":"tag-pittsburgh-news","15":"tag-road-closures"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=172383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/172383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=172383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=172383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=172383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}