PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers and Pirates have reached a traffic agreement with Don Barden and PITG Gaming dealing with the new casino, which will be built on the North Shore.

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Construction had been blocked after both teams sued, citing traffic concerns on game days.

The teams and casino owner have agreed to share the cost of police officers who direct game-day traffic and, with the state's help, to build a pedestrian bridge from Heinz Field to the casino's parking garage.

The $16 million improvement plan also calls for more traffic signals on the nearby West End Bridge, so traffic on it can be routed one way toward the stadiums before games and away from them after games.

Bob Oltmanns, spokesman for Barden's PITG Gaming, said the deal means construction on the casino can begin next month. The casino construction should take about 16 months, Oltmanns said.

"The Pirates and Steelers had a list of 17 improvements costing hundreds of millions of dollars," said Judge Joseph James. "I didn't think we were going anywhere."

"The Steelers. The Pirates. They were acting in the best interest of their business. We were, too," said Oltmanns.

For the changes to West End Bridge and circle, the state will pay 65 percent of the cost.

Half of the pedestrian bridge will be paid for with state money with equal shares paid by the rest.

"I think there were differences, but we've come a long way," said Steelers President Art Rooney.

The city still has to approve Barden's final design for the casino before construction can begin.

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