PITTSBURGH, PA — Some of Pittsburgh's busiest streets already have closed as preparations continue for the upcoming NFL Draft that will occur in the city April 23-25.
City, Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Regional Transit officials on Thursday announced a new phase of road closures that will be in place from April 13-21.
That's in addition to the roads that already have been shut down in advance of the draft.
Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to flood the city to attend the event. In preparation for that expectation, a series of street closures began last week and complete street openings will not occur until several weeks after the draft has concluded.
“Hosting the NFL Draft is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Pittsburgh, and we’re committed to ensuring both residents and visitors can experience it with ease,” said Jerad Bachar, President and CEO of the the regional tourism agency VisitPittsburgh.
“By pairing thoughtful planning with free, accessible transit options, we’re making it simple for everyone to be part of this moment while keeping our city moving.”
The new road closures on and around the North Shore that will go into effect on Monday:
* Casino Drive (from Sproat Way)
* North Shore Drive (to Chuck Noll Way)
* Reedsdale Street (to Tony Dorsett Drive)
* Chuck Noll Way
* Tony Dorsett Drive
* I-279 Southbound Exit 1B ramp to Reedsdale Street
* Reedsdale Underpass
Pittsburgh Regional Transit will provide free "Football Flyer" routes throughout the draft weekend. The service will operate every 15 minutes on April 23-24 and every 30 minutes on April 25.
The routes will run daily from 10 a.m.-1 a.m. and will offer direct service to Point State Park and PNC Park on the North Shore.
The routes include:
* **99N (North Hills)** – Begins at McCandless Park and Ride (9700 McKnight Road), with a stop at Ross Park and Ride (5204 Perry Highway), utilizing HOV lanes on I-279
* **99E (East)** – Begins at Monroeville Mall and serves all stations along the East Busway
* **99S (South)** – Begins at South Hills Village Park and Ride (219 Peters Creek Road) and serves all stations along the South Busway
* **99W (West)** – Begins at University Boulevard Park and Ride (9000 University Boulevard), serving all West Busway stops, plus the lower stations of both the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines
Additionally, Pittsburgh Regional Transit is partnering with Sheets to provide free rides on the T and the Monongahela Incline throughout draft weekend. Sheetz will cover all fares on the Red, Blue and Silver lines, as well as the incline.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. [Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.](/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/subscribe)