Pittsburgh's St. Patrick's Day Parade Route, Road Closures

PITTSBURGH,None — Pittsburgh's annual St. Patrick's Day Parade is set for Saturday, March 13.

Unlike years' past, the 2010 parade will follow a newly established route.

Parade formation will begin at 10 a.m. the Greyhound Bus Station at the intersection of Liberty Avenue and 11th Street.

Staging will take place from the bus station and away from Downtown to 26th Street. The parade will proceed from the intersection of Liberty and 11th Streets to Grant Street to the Boulevard of the Allies, where it will turn right. Proceed on the Boulevard of the Allies to the Reviewing Stand at Stanwix Street, then disburse at Commonwealth Place.

Pittsburgh's parade is the second-largest St. Patrick's Parade in the U.S. with 23,000 participants, 200 marching units including 18 marching bands. Floats and many other groups representing several Irish heritage and other ethnic heritage organizations. Participants will include the 2010 Grand Marshal, Miss Smiling Irish Eyes 2010, along with St. Patrick Himself.

Megan Schiller of Whitehall was crowned Miss Smiling Irish Eyes 2010 on Friday. She said she is very excited to represent the Irish in the parade.

Organizers expect 150,000-250,000 spectators.

All streets in the Strip District and Downtown areas affected by the parade route will be signed "NO PARKING AFTER 7:00 AM." Officers will post signs after 3 p.m. on Friday.

The expected time of road closures will be from 8:30 a.m. until 2 p.m.. The following road closures will be in effect during the parade:

All streets running between Penn and Liberty Avenues William Penn and Cherry Way to Grant Street from Seventh Avenue to Blvd. of the Allies. All streets between Ross Street and Grant Street from Sixth Avenue to Blvd. of the Allies. All streets between Ft. Pitt and the Blvd. of Allies from First Avenue to Stanwix All streets between Third Avenue and the Blvd. of the Allies from Grant Street to Stanwix Street The Fort Pitt Bridge ramp to Liberty Avenue and the Blvd. of the Allies will be closed Motorists traveling down I-579, I-279 and the Cross-town will not be able to exit onto Seventh Avenue There will be no exit from the Liberty Bridge to the Blvd. of the Allies Bedford Avenue ramp to Seventh Avenue will be closed.

Residents of the Pennsylvanian will be permitted to cross over Grant Street to Eleventh when there is a break in the parade route.

South Side:

East Carson Street may be closed between 10th Street and 26th Street throughout the afternoon and evening.

There will be additional police officers patrolling the area as well as officers working details at numerous establishments on the South Side and Station Square.

There will also be Liquor Control Enforcement Agents detailed to the event to cite under aged drinkers and/or establishments in violation of serving under aged drinkers.

North Shore:

There will be no street closures on the North Shore.

However, there will be additional officers patrolling the North Shore areas along with officers working details at various establishments on the North Shore.

Some Port Authority bus routes will be detoured during the parade.

Open container laws will be enforced in all areas.

City officials said it is the focus of law enforcement to maintain a peaceful and controlled celebration, perform crowd control management throughout the city and safeguard against damage to public and private property.

Market Square: No Open Containers Allowed

Market Square in downtown Pittsburgh is usually the hot spot for St. Patrick's Day revelers, but that might not be the case this year.

Market Square is still torn up by construction, but restaurants and bars in the square will be open for the holiday.

In previous years, those over 21 were allowed in the Square, where open containers were allowed for anyone wearing a designated wrist band. However, this year, no open containers will be allowed in the Square.

Many bars and restaurants are offering special deals and hope parade-goers will still make a stop at Market Square.

"There are going to be plenty of places having green beer specials and food specials," said Holly Geitner of the Downtown Partnership. "There's a new place called Las Velas, and they're going to have specials starting at 8 a.m."

The St. Patty's Day parade starts at 10 a.m.

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