The filming of the Jackie Robinson biopic “42” will be taking over some of downtown Birmingham’s streets next week. The closures will serve as bookends for the crew’s stay – it’s been previously reported that they’ll be filming next week at historic Rickwood Field. Incidentally, there’s still a chance to sign up to watch filming at the ballpark as well as a chance to be an extra.
We’ve been trying to make some sense of the maps that we’ve been forwarded to us. Birmingham Police will be on hand to direct both vehicular and pedestrian traffic. You never know what could happen if fans of Chadwick Boseman (portraying Robinson) and Harrison Ford (portraying Dodgers GM Branch Rickey) even think they’ve caught a glimpse of them…
The closures will begin this coming Sunday, May 13 (PDF of closure map) in the area surrounding the Tutwiler Hotel. Park Place will be closed between Short 20th St. N. (the portion that runs directly in front of City Hall) and Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N. It will also be closed on Monday, May 14 – along with one parking lane and one traffic lane along Arrington between Park Place and 6th Ave. N. Their goal is to reopen the area to traffic by 9 p.m. on May 15.
Next Friday, May 18, 3rd Ave. N. (PDF of closure map) will be closed from 17th Street N to Richard Arrington, Jr. Blvd. N. will reopen to traffic early Saturday morning (May 19). There may also be a section of 17th St. N. closed between 3rd & 4th Ave. N. at sometime on May 18 reopening the following morning. They’ll be towing cars too, so don’t park where you’re not supposed to be.
Photo: Jackie Robinson’s 42 at Citi Field June 10, 2009. David Berkowitz/Flickr.
