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Flood Gates To Be Installed On Washington Boulevard

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Workers will begin installing an advanced notification flood gate system on Washington Boulevard on Tuesday.

According to a press release from PennDOT, "The system will use pressure sensors that automatically close the gates and activate warning signs when a pre-determined amount of water is detected on the roadway."

It will also notify emergency personnel.

"We have worked hard and in partnership with governmental entities, in particular PennDOT, to make sure that this thoroughfare is safe today, tomorrow, and in years to come," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said in a statement. "Immediately following the tragedy on Washington Boulevard, our public safety department issued an operational order that directed officials to close the road immediately during necessary weather conditions. Our next step was to work with PennDOT to get a gate system installed, and ultimately our long-term goal is to identify solutions for all city flood-prone areas."

The project will cost about $450,000 to install three gate systems in the area and should be completed early in 2012.

The project comes after Brenna, Mikaela and Kimberly Griffith were all killed in a flash flood along Washington Boulevard in August.

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