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Pirates, Pitt And Penn State Fans Should Expect Traffic On The North Shore Saturday

Katie Blackley
/
90.5 WESA
Crowds gather to watch a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game at PNC Park on the North Shore.

Sports fans headed to the North Side this weekend will see delays and traffic. Ahead of the Pirates-Marlins baseball game at PNC Park, and the sold out University of Pittsburgh-Penn State college football game at Heinz Field, traffic and tailgating restrictions will be in effect.

After the Pirates take the field at 1:05 p.m., a “No Tailgate Policy” will be implemented until 5 p.m. Additionally, the Clemente Bridge will close to car traffic at 10 a.m. and only reopen to outbound North Shore traffic about a half hour after the final pitch.

Chris Togneri, the public information officer for the Public Safety Department said barring any extraordinary game play that leads to extra innings, Pirates fans should be long gone before college football crowds arrive.

“I wouldn’t expect much disruption if you’re a Pirates fan,” Togneri said. “If you’re going to the football game though, you know can expect heavy traffic, you can expect a lot of wait to get into parking lots -- there’s going to be a lot of tailgating. It’s going to be a typical, sold-out Heinz Field experience.”

Fans attending the Pitt-Penn State rivalry game should arrive after 5 p.m., when they will be allowed into lots that may have been occupied by Pirates fans earlier in the day. Those attending both games will be allowed to stay in their lots, but need to show pre-sold parking passes.

Togneri says these precautions are similar to those put in place for most large events in the city.

“Essentially, our preparation is the same for an event like this as it is with other large events like Fourth of July, the Regatta, First Night and so on,” Togneri said.

Game goers are encouraged to find parking Downtown or in the South Side and take public transportation to the fields.