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Concert, Regatta Could Cause Traffic Nightmare Downtown, On North Shore

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- It's a big weekend in the City of Pittsburgh.

Country music superstars Kenny Chesney and Tim McGraw will be rocking Heinz Field Saturday, and churning up the water on the local rivers is the Three Rivers Regatta.

One group of Kenny Chesney fans didn't want to wait until sunrise to start tailgating for the Brothers Under the Sun Tour.

"There's a lot of it going on," said Trish Genson, who came in from New York. "It starts really early."

North Shore hotels are completely booked for this weekend's festivities with out-of-towners checking in.

Others who live in the Pittsburgh area say they're well aware of the chaotic scene that will occur Saturday morning when tailgaters meet Regatta-goers; so they're staying the night to avoid the traffic all together.

Commuters would like to miss the heavy congestion, but with the Regatta going on simultaneously, the Port Authority says they're prepared.

"We have a lot of extra service planned, and we have a lot of things in place to help control crowd movement," said Jim Ritchie, of the Port Authority.

Pittsburgh Parking Authority is urging people to utilize the T, and suggests those who are going to the Regatta and concert-goers who aren't tailgating to park in the Cultural District.

"I would suggest you park anywhere Downtown, the Mellon Square garage or Oliver garage. You still can hop on the T at Steel Plaza or the Wood Street T to get to the North Side," said David Onorato, of the Pittsburgh Parking Authority.

Aside from traffic, the other main thing people are going to have to pay attention to will be the heat, temperatures are expected to be in the 90s.

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