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Pittsburgh officials unveil safety plans ahead of busy weekend

Pittsburgh officials unveil safety plans ahead of busy weekend
READY FOR THE CROWDS AS BEHIND THE SCENES PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICIALS ARE PREPARING FOR TAYLOR’S ARRIVAL WITH A LIST OF SAFETY MEASURES IN PLACE. NOW, WHETHER YOU’RE GOING TO THE CONCERT OR NOT, OFFICIALS SAY YOU CAN HELP THEM MAKE SURE THINGS RUN SMOOTHLY. THIS IS PROBABLY THE BIGGEST EVENT, I WOULD SAY, IN THE CITY IN QUITE SOME TIME. WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING DOWN FROM CANADA AND ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, BUT WE’RE EXCITED FOR THEM TO SEE THE CITY. WE’RE EXCITED FOR THEM TO SEE ACRISURE STADIUM AS ACRISURE STADIUM PREPARES FOR TAYLOR’S TWO SOLD OUT SHOWS, CITY OFFICIALS ARE AMPING UP THEIR SAFETY PLANS FOR THE NORTH SHORE AND BEYOND. WE HAVE COMBINATION OF OUR OFFICERS. SOME WILL BE WORKING OVERTIME. SOME ARE JUST VOLUNTEER TORI FOR SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT AS WELL AS STATE POLICE HELP WITH HIGHWAYS AND TRAFFIC ALWAYS AND AS NEEDED. BUT WE’LL ALSO HAVE COUNTY POLICE AND COUNTY SHERIFFS SUPPORTING ALONG WITH A VISIBLE POLICE PRESENCE BOTH INSIDE AND AROUND THE STADIUM. A RIVER RESCUE WILL BE PATROLLING THE WATER AS PEOPLE TAKE IN THE SHOWS FROM THEIR BOATS. AS MANY AS 100,000 FANS, BOTH WITH TICKETS AND WITHOUT, HAVE GATHERED AROUND VENUES FOR TAYLOR’S CONCERTS IN OTHER CITIES. HERE IN PITTSBURGH, OFFICIALS ARE DISCOURAGED, SAYING THAT WE’RE ASKING IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TICKETS, THAT YOU DO NOT ADD TO THE VOLUME OF PEOPLE ON THE NORTH SHORE. WE DON’T REALLY HAVE AREAS TO LISTEN OR FOR YOU TO STAND AROUND THE STADIUM SAFELY. IF YOU DO HAVE A TICKET. OFFICIALS SAY TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT IF POSSIBLE, AND TRAVEL LIGHTLY. KEEP IN MIND, AKERSHUS STADIUM HAS A CLEAR BAG POLICY AND ONLY MOBILE TICKETS ARE ACCEPTED. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT DO HAVE THE TICKETS GET IN EASILY, ENJOY THE CONCERT AND THEN GET HOME SAFELY AFTERWARDS AS PARKING LOTS OPEN AT 130. BOTH ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. ALL GATES OPEN AT 430. THEN TAYLOR’S EXPECTED TO TAKE THE STAGE JUST BEFORE 8 P.M. REPORTING FROM THE NORTH SHORE, ASHLEY ZILKA PITTSBURGH’S ACTION NEWS FOUR. OKAY, ASHLEY, THANK YOU. THE TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT IS NOT THE ONLY BIG EVENT BRINGING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE TO PITTSBURGH THIS WEEKEND. ON SATURDAY, SEVERAL STREETS DOWNTOWN DOWN IN THE LOWER HILL DISTRICT WILL BE CLOSED OFF FOR THE JUNE FOR THE JUNETEENTH GRAND JUBILEE PARADE. THE CLOSURES WILL START AT 8:00 SATURDAY MORNING WITH THE PARADE SET TO BEGIN AT 1030. SO YOU CAN SEE ON YOUR SCREEN ON CRAWFORD STREET, CENTER FIFTH AND LIBERTY AVENUES WILL BE IMPACTED BY THIS. YOU CAN FIND THE FULL LIST OF JUNETEENTH CELEBRATION EVENTS LISTED RIGHT NOW ON OU
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Pittsburgh officials unveil safety plans ahead of busy weekend
It's about to be a very busy weekend in the city of Pittsburgh with Juneteenth celebrations, and Taylor Swift is returning with two shows Friday and Saturday.Safety is a top priority over the four days of events. Pittsburgh Public Safety has been working behind the scenes for weeks now for both of them. Officials say they’re anticipating some of the largest crowds they have seen in recent history. This isn't just only around across Acrisure Stadium, but also in other parts of the city. Officials say traffic and parking will be the main issues this weekend. There are going to be parking restrictions and road closures for the Juneteenth parade on Saturday. For the Swift concerts, parking at Acrisure will only be available for fans with tickets.Officials also said if you work in the area around North Shore on Friday or Saturday and you can work from home, you’re asked to do so. Pittsburgh officers will be working overtime, and Pennsylvania State Police will be helping with highways and traffic. Allegheny County police will also be there for support. Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto says Swift’s concerts alone, there will be 50 officers inside the stadium, and 25 outside. Overall, he said, it will impact about 200 city officers over the weekend. "We anticipate some of the largest crowds we’ve seen in quite some time converging in areas throughout the city, mainly downtown in the North Shore, Market Square, Point State Park, Liberty Avenue and around Acrisure Stadium, obviously," said Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt. When it comes to Juneteenth, officials estimate about 8,000 to 10,000 people will be out for any given day for the four-day festivities.As many as 100,000 Taylor Swift fans will be down on the North Shore over the weekend. “This is probably the biggest event I would say in the city in quite some time…we have people coming down from Canada and all over the country, but we are excited for them to see the city, we are excited for them to see Acrisure Stadium,” Steelers spokesperson, Burt Lauten said.Along with a visible police presence both inside and around the stadium, River Rescue will be patrolling the water as people take in the shows from their boats.Officials are strongly discouraging all non-ticket holders to avoid coming down to the stadium and the North Shore. “We are asking if you do not have tickets, that you do not add to the volume of people on the North Shore. We don't really have areas to listen or for you to stand around the stadium safely,” Schmidt said.If you do have a ticket, officials say take public transit if possible and travel lightly. Acrisure Stadium has a clear bag policy and only mobile tickets are accepted. “We want to make sure that the people who do have the tickets get in easily, enjoy the concert, and then, get home safely afterwards,” Lauten said.

It's about to be a very busy weekend in the city of Pittsburgh with Juneteenth celebrations, and Taylor Swift is returning with two shows Friday and Saturday.

Safety is a top priority over the four days of events. Pittsburgh Public Safety has been working behind the scenes for weeks now for both of them. Officials say they’re anticipating some of the largest crowds they have seen in recent history. This isn't just only around across Acrisure Stadium, but also in other parts of the city.

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Officials say traffic and parking will be the main issues this weekend. There are going to be parking restrictions and road closures for the Juneteenth parade on Saturday. For the Swift concerts, parking at Acrisure will only be available for fans with tickets.

Officials also said if you work in the area around North Shore on Friday or Saturday and you can work from home, you’re asked to do so.

Pittsburgh officers will be working overtime, and Pennsylvania State Police will be helping with highways and traffic. Allegheny County police will also be there for support.

Pittsburgh police chief Larry Scirotto says Swift’s concerts alone, there will be 50 officers inside the stadium, and 25 outside. Overall, he said, it will impact about 200 city officers over the weekend.

"We anticipate some of the largest crowds we’ve seen in quite some time converging in areas throughout the city, mainly downtown in the North Shore, Market Square, Point State Park, Liberty Avenue and around Acrisure Stadium, obviously," said Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt.

When it comes to Juneteenth, officials estimate about 8,000 to 10,000 people will be out for any given day for the four-day festivities.

As many as 100,000 Taylor Swift fans will be down on the North Shore over the weekend.

“This is probably the biggest event I would say in the city in quite some time…we have people coming down from Canada and all over the country, but we are excited for them to see the city, we are excited for them to see Acrisure Stadium,” Steelers spokesperson, Burt Lauten said.

Along with a visible police presence both inside and around the stadium, River Rescue will be patrolling the water as people take in the shows from their boats.

Officials are strongly discouraging all non-ticket holders to avoid coming down to the stadium and the North Shore.

“We are asking if you do not have tickets, that you do not add to the volume of people on the North Shore. We don't really have areas to listen or for you to stand around the stadium safely,” Schmidt said.

If you do have a ticket, officials say take public transit if possible and travel lightly. Acrisure Stadium has a clear bag policy and only mobile tickets are accepted.

“We want to make sure that the people who do have the tickets get in easily, enjoy the concert, and then, get home safely afterwards,” Lauten said.