PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — This morning’s storm brought with it the area’s first significant rainfall since Friday’s deadly flash flooding; but with resources at the ready, crews kept a close watch on Washington Boulevard.

Pittsburgh Public Works and Pittsburgh Sewer and Water Authority employees were busy monitoring the rain soaked pavement in Highland Park early today.

As the rain subsided without any flooding, vacuum pumps sucked out mud and debris from storm basins along the road while street cleaners scoured the curbs.

These measures were put into place as part of a monitoring plan in the wake of the flooding that claimed four lives along the road last week.

As for a long term solution, Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl recently said there is an option — but it’s an expensive one. “When you talk about raising a road,” Ravenstahl continued, “that’s a significant cost — let’s be very frank and upfront.”

In the short term, though, Pittsburgh’s Public Safety Director Mike Huss said drivers may need to find an alternate route when heavy rains roll in.

“We’re going to have to close the road when that heavy rainfall is expected,” Huss added, “and we can’t wait until the roadway floods… We threw so many resources at Washington Boulevard on Friday, but it wasn’t enough.”

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Coverage Of The Washington Boulevard Flooding
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