Washington Blvd. flood gate system ready for spring storms

Gates that will automatically shut down a Highland Park road in a flash flood should become operational this week, just in time for spring storms.

"May is our big weather month, as far as severe thunderstorms," Pittsburgh Public Safety Director Michael Huss said after watching crews test the gates on Tuesday by briefly closing Washington Boulevard to traffic and pouring water on the road.

Flooding in that area killed four people last year.

Thunderstorms likely will roll into the Pittsburgh area today and could occur again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, according to the National Weather Service in Moon.

Huss said he expects crews to conduct another test of the gates, which PennDOT installed at Washington and Allegheny River boulevards, Washington and Negley Run boulevards and Washington and Highland Drive.

Water pressure sensors will prompt the gates to stop inbound traffic when water begins backing up on the road, Huss said.

"It's going to help us immediately close that roadway down, to prevent people from driving through that flooded area," Huss said. "Hopefully, it will prevent another lost life."

Heavy rain flooded Washington Boulevard and trapped motorists in August. Kimberly Griffith, 46, and her daughters Breanna, 12, and Mikaela, 8, died in their minivan. Mary Saflin, 72, died when a 9-foot wall of water swept her away.

Afterward, city officials pushed PennDOT to move forward with the gates project and began training public safety employees in basic water-rescue techniques.

More than 1,200 employees are trained, and Huss expects the remaining 500 to complete training by the end of the month. The city then will train some employees in swift-water rescue tactics, including boat operation, he said.

PennDOT estimated it would spend $450,000 to install the gates and post five warning signs. Work began in October.