PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – The ice rink inside Heinz Field is taking shape as crews continue to get it ready for the Winter Classic.

After days of working in adverse conditions, the rink’s construction master Dan Craig said the Heinz Field winds have finally cut them a brake.

“It’s a little bit better this morning, but if you notice, it’s probably about half of what it was,” Craig said.

In fact, things were so favorable they reached a turning point on Tuesday.

“There’s about an inch-and-a-half [of ice] out there right now, so we’ll paint the lines right now and when we finish, it will be about two to two-and-a-half inches,” NHL Spokesman Jamey Horan said.

With the help of some children from Pittsburgh Youth Hockey, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl helped put down some of the initial paint.

“It’s going to be great to have 65,000 [fans] in here on Saturday rooting on the Penguins, and to have the experience here is great and I know we all look forward to it this weekend,” Ravenstahl said.

Mayor Ravenstahl said he’s not nervous about the weekend weather and beamed when he talked about the $20-$30 million dollar economic boom the Winter Classic will bring to Pittsburgh.

“Most of all, what it means to Pittsburgh and the image that we continue to change throughout the country and throughout the world,” Ravenstahl said.

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals are scheduled to drop the puck at 1 p.m. It will be the second time that the Pens have played in the Winter Classic.