Gateway Clipper won't operate for Pirates home opener due to high river level

NOW? YEAH. MIKE. KRISTEN. GOOD EVENING. WHILE MANY OF OUR VIEWERS MIGHT BE GETTING READY FOR BED RIGHT NOW, PENNDOT CREWS BEHIND ME ARE JUST STARTING THEIR WORK OF PUMPING FLOODWATERS FROM THE BATHTUB, WHICH IS PRONE TO FLOODING. THIS IS WORK THAT THEY HAD TO WAIT TO DO UNTIL THE WATER LEVELS GOT A BIT LOWER. RIGHT NOW, WE’RE AT THE MERCY OF MOTHER NATURE AND THOSE THOSE WATERS RECEDING BEFORE WE COULD START PUMPING. ACCORDING TO PENNDOT, THE MAGIC NUMBER WHEN YOU CAN START PUMPING, THE BATHTUB IS 25FT. AS THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TELLS US, THE RIVER CRESTED AT 29FT FOLLOWING THIS WEEK’S STORMS. I’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT BEFORE. I’VE WORKED DOWN HERE FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS, AND THIS IS THE WORST THAT I’VE. EVER SEEN IT. IT’S NEVER BEEN THIS HIGH. SO HIGH THAT THE GATEWAY CLIPPER WILL BE OUT OF COMMISSION FOR THE PIRATES HOME OPENER. I FEEL BAD FOR OUR FANS. I FEEL BAD FOR THE PEOPLE WHO RODE THE BOAT. IT IS A TRADITION FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE. I HOPE THEY COME BACK NEXT WEEK AFTER WE WE DON’T DO IT FOR A FEW DAYS. FOR NOW, THERE’S NOT MUCH TO DO WITH THE RIVER EXCEPT GAWK AT IT AS TRASH AND DEBRIS FLOAT BY THE POINT STATE PARK FOUNTAIN AND MURKY WATER COVERS THE RIVERWALK, BUT HOPEFULLY NOT FOR LONG. WE KNOW IT’S GOING TO BE BUSY, BUT IT’S AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR PITTSBURGH. IT’S AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR THE BUCKOS, SO WE’RE GOING TO TRY OUR BEST TO. HOPEFULLY MOTHER NATURE COOPERATES. BY 20. BACK HERE OUTSIDE THE BATHTUB, YOU COULD SEE CREWS HARD AT WORK. HE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE ALL OF THEIR WORK, BUT WE COULD SEE THE EQUIPMENT IN THE DISTANCE STARTING TO PUMP THIS WATER. NOW, IF THINGS ARE STILL PRECARIOUS TOMORROW BEFORE GAME TIME, PENNDOT DOES HAVE A LIST OF ALTERNATE ROUTES. YOU CAN TAKE THAT FULL LIST IS ON OUR WEBSITE WCIA.COM. ALSO, AS FOR THE GATEWAY CLIPPER, WHILE THEY’RE HOPEFUL THEY CAN GET IT BACK AND RUNNING BY THE END OF THE WEEKEND BECAUSE OF THE FORECAST, WATER LEVELS ARE PROBABLY STILL GOING TO BE TOO HIGH FOR THE GATEWAY CLIPPER TO DROP FANS OFF AT THE RIVERWALK IN FRONT OF PNC PARK, SO IF YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO GET BY THE GATEWAY CLIPPER TO THE GAME THIS WEEKEND, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY FIND OTHER WAYS TO GET

When the red-hot Pirates return to Pittsburgh Friday for their home opener, they'll do so in front of a packed crowd of fans who will have to navigate road closures to get to PNC Park."I think it’s gonna make it a little more crowded over on the North Shore," Terry Wirginis, president/owner of Gateway Clipper, said of the recent flooding.Wirginis spoke to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Thursday, hours after he announced the Gateway Clipper would not be able to shuttle fans to the Pirates games this weekend due to a National Weather Service forecast that suggests water levels will cover the River Walk in front of PNC Park."I feel bad for our fans," Wirginis said. "This has become Pittsburgh's version of a tailgate party for the Pirates game."The "bathtub" section of the Parkway East remains closed due to flooding. That section of the parkway floods when waters reach 25 feet. The Ohio River crested at nearly 29 feet Thursday morning.PennDOT crews were expected to work throughout the overnight hours to clear the area of water. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 saw crews bring equipment to pump water--work that could not begin until the water receded to 25 feet."We know it’s going to be busy," said Lori Musto, the assistant district executive for maintenance for PennDOT's District 11. "But it’s an important day for Pittsburgh, it’s an important day for the Buccos. So we’re going to try our best and hopefully Mother Nature cooperates."In an e-mail at 10:15 p.m., a representative with PennDOT tells Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that pumping of the "bathtub" has begun. For a full list of alternate routes that fans could consider taking to the game, visit this link.

PITTSBURGH —

When the red-hot Pirates return to Pittsburgh Friday for their home opener, they'll do so in front of a packed crowd of fans who will have to navigate road closures to get to PNC Park.

"I think it’s gonna make it a little more crowded over on the North Shore," Terry Wirginis, president/owner of Gateway Clipper, said of the recent flooding.

Wirginis spoke to Pittsburgh's Action News 4 Thursday, hours after he announced the Gateway Clipper would not be able to shuttle fans to the Pirates games this weekend due to a National Weather Service forecast that suggests water levels will cover the River Walk in front of PNC Park.

"I feel bad for our fans," Wirginis said. "This has become Pittsburgh's version of a tailgate party for the Pirates game."

The "bathtub" section of the Parkway East remains closed due to flooding. That section of the parkway floods when waters reach 25 feet. The Ohio River crested at nearly 29 feet Thursday morning.

!!! PennDOT crews starting to pump water from the “bathtub” section of the Parkway. @WTAE pic.twitter.com/n1zp1WyLDb
— Mike Valente (@ValenteWTAE) April 5, 2024

PennDOT crews were expected to work throughout the overnight hours to clear the area of water. Pittsburgh's Action News 4 saw crews bring equipment to pump water--work that could not begin until the water receded to 25 feet.

"We know it’s going to be busy," said Lori Musto, the assistant district executive for maintenance for PennDOT's District 11. "But it’s an important day for Pittsburgh, it’s an important day for the Buccos. So we’re going to try our best and hopefully Mother Nature cooperates."

In an e-mail at 10:15 p.m., a representative with PennDOT tells Pittsburgh's Action News 4 that pumping of the "bathtub" has begun.

For a full list of alternate routes that fans could consider taking to the game, visit this link.

Gateway Clipper won't operate for Pirates home opener due to high river level

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