An upcoming downtown film shoot for a blockbuster action movie is expected to transform downtown Chicago — but only temporarily.
“Transformers 3,” the third installment in the action series, will film in Chicago from Saturday through Aug. 23, bringing with it intermittent street closures and CTA reroutes, according to a release from the city’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications.
The filming is suspected to bring at least $20 million and 200 jobs to the local economy, according to the release.
This weekend, LaSalle Street will be closed from Jackson Avenue to Wacker Drive from 8 p.m. Friday to 5 a.m. Monday, according to the release.
From 6 a.m. Saturday to 5 a.m. Monday, Washington Avenue will be closed from Wells Street to Clark Street and Randolph Street will be closed from Wells Street to Wacker Drive.
Residents should also expect brief intermittent closures of intersecting street at LaSalle Street, between Jackson, Adams, madison and Monroe avenues, according to the release.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Musxx7r_SYs[/youtube]
During filming, street closures will reroute CTA bus service on the following lines, according to the transit agency:
–#14 Jeffrey Express, #20 Madison Avenue, #56 Milwaukee Avenue, #60 Blue Island route, #124 Navy Pier route, #126 Jackson Avenue route, #130 Museum Campus route, and #151 Sheridan Road route.
Customers are advised to allow for extra travel time.
Also on Saturday and Sunday, helicopters and stunt parachutists will be in the vicinity of Willis Tower, the LaSalle Street Financial District, East Randolph Street and Daley Bicentennial plaza for brief periods between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., according to the release.
Police and fire officials will supervise special effects and pyrotechnics used on set, according to the release. Residents with questions or concerns about the special effects can contact 311.
Street ambassadors and posted signs from the production company will also be present to direct residents, according to the release. Several pictures have been surfacing on the internet with the filming in downtown Chicago. Optimus Prime’s Trailer, a Corvette convertable, the mysterious red Ferrari and a NASCAR racecar armed to the teeth have all been spotted along with Bumblebee and the Chevy Volt.
– WBBM CBS, Seibertron Corvette Forum
