Thousands of police officers, protesters and journalists will jam Downtown next week during the G-20 summit, but extensive traffic restrictions will bar most motorists from the Golden Triangle.

Authorities unveiling the city's transportation plans yesterday tried to strike a balance between keeping Downtown thriving and its inhabitants safe as Pittsburgh braces for mass protests likely to accompany the arrival of President Barack Obama and numerous world leaders.

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Downtown and how to get there.

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"We think there's no reason you can't get to work and have a normal workday Thursday and Friday," Mayor Luke Ravenstahl said during a news briefing at police headquarters on the North Side.

It just might take longer than usual.

Central to the idea that with great summits come great responsibility is this corollary: There also come great headaches.

"There will be some inconvenience, but we will keep it at a minimum," Pittsburgh police Chief Nate Harper said.

The three entry points will be at the Smithfield Street Bridge at West Carson Street; Fifth Avenue at Ross Street; and the Roberto Clemente Bridge and Isabella Street. Each entry point will be staffed by city police officers.

Other entrance ramps, bridges and streets leading into Downtown will be barricaded.

Motorists can exit Downtown at any point.

Not everyone voiced support for the plan of 27 road closures, limited entry points and other hindrances.

Pittsburgh City Councilwoman Tonya Payne, whose district includes Downtown, said she thought the measures were an overreaction.

"As much as we possibly can have open, we need to have open," she said. Closing Downtown to cars "is like putting a clog in a drain," and will mess up traffic flows elsewhere, she said.

"People are just afraid. You've got people totally afraid that it might become mayhem and we won't know what to do," she said. "We're just acting like we've never had protests before."

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Other council members said they hadn't been briefed on the plan before it was announced to the media.

Brian T. Henciak, who owns Pittsburgh Mailing in Kennedy, said he tried without success yesterday afternoon to clarify information about the G-20 restrictions through the city's 311 hotline.

"It's frustrating trying to get an answer," Mr. Henciak said.

Unpopular as they might be in some quarters, there is a method to the madness of the restrictions.

Severely curbing traffic is meant to provide open avenues for motorcades and allow emergency responders to deploy rapidly if the need arises. Another goal is to prevent traffic tie-ups Downtown that could result in gridlock and have ripple effects on area highways and interstate commerce.

The mayor said he doubted there would be three- or four-hour backups to get into Downtown through a trio of designated points for the limited types of vehicles permitted to enter. He and other officials acknowledged, however, there doubtless would be tie-ups and bothers.

Street closures will be numerous. Vehicles left on the street Wednesday night will be towed, which could have repercussions for any forgetful graveyard shift workers Downtown. Taxis will operate from three designated stands near hotels. And commercial traffic will be detoured along Carson Street and Second Avenue.

No officials were willing to predict how much Downtown's daily population of roughly 200,000 will shrink during the two-day economic gathering or how many fewer vehicles will be on the streets.

Officials warned the public to make plans as soon as possible instead of waiting until the last minute next week.

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 24 and lasting until Friday evening, only select groups of people will be able to enter Downtown by vehicle.

They include Downtown residents, who must show a driver's license with proof of a Downtown address, delivery trucks (with deliveries to be made between 5 a.m. and 7 a.m.), taxis, hotel shuttles, armored cars, ACCESS vehicles and medical suppliers.

Downtown workers, business owners and other commuters will not be allowed to drive in. However, the Port Authority of Allegheny County will be running buses and light-rail transit.

The "T" will go as far as First Avenue. Steel Plaza, Wood Street and Gateway Center stations will be closed. Buses will traverse the Golden Triangle but on modified routes.

"If you are in our service area and your ultimate destination is the Golden Triangle, you will be able to get there," pledged Port Authority Chief Executive Officer Steve Bland.

The Boulevard of the Allies will serve as a main transfer point for bus riders. However, Mr. Bland noted that all routes are subject to change based on circumstances and suggested that people sign up for e-mail blasts or check Twitter feeds through the agency's Web site, www.portauthority.org/g20.

Pedestrians and bicyclists can move freely about Downtown outside of the security perimeter around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.

Many roads will be closed. Authorities hope commuters who need to get Downtown will either use mass transit, Port Authority park-and-ride lots, or parking lots and garages at the periphery of Downtown.

Downtown garages owned and operated by the city will be staffed by attendants monitoring the facilities but not open to vehicles.

Merrill Stabile, president of Alco Parking Corp., which manages numerous lots and garages Downtown and nearby, said thousands of his spots will go unoccupied because of the restrictions.

On Thursday, the Pirates play a home game at 12:35 p.m., and Mr. Stabile said he was told to open the North Shore lots at 8:30 a.m. and charge event rates.

"I really do think there will be very few people that want to drive and wade their way through this," Mr. Stabile said.

The city's plan can be found at www.g20safety.org/traffic_plan.htm.