Between April 6 and 16, Vancouver’s Georgia Viaduct will be closed between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays, with access restricted to one lane running by a 100-metre screened area in the evening, the city says.Rafal Gerszak/The Globe and Mail
The City of Vancouver has agreed to daily shutdowns of the Georgia Viaduct, which leads out of the downtown core, over 13 days in April to land a major Hollywood film expected to create hundreds of jobs.
That commitment affecting one of two key city viaducts appears to have helped persuade producers of Deadpool, starring Vancouver-born Ryan Reynolds, to plant their production in the Lower Mainland.
But it will exact a price on drivers. Between April 6 and 16, for example, the viaduct will be closed between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays.
While the Georgia Viaduct has been closed in past, for maintenance and the 2010 Winter Olympics, it has never been closed for one of Vancouver's film or TV projects.
Vancouver transportation director Jerry Dobrovolny said in an interview Thursday that alternative routes will be available, and any effects on traffic are worth it for the $37.5-million in direct spending in Metro Vancouver and expected 1,100 jobs linked to the 20th Century Fox production.
"We're really pleased with a major film like this coming to Vancouver when they had the rest of the world to choose from," said Mr. Dobrovolny, noting that talks around the issue have been under way for about a month.
He said he believes the city has come up with a traffic plan to mitigate effects, noting there is room for cars on routes that run parallel to the viaduct. The other viaduct, Dunsmuir, will not be used for shooting.
"The use of the viaduct is necessary to accommodate a critical scene that requires the appearance of highway overpasses entering a major downtown core," John Kelly said in the statement.
Deadpool is a Marvel Comics character that Mr. Reynolds previously played in the 2009 film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. The character associated with Marvel's mutant heroes is a wry and mentally unstable mercenary with an enhanced ability to recover from injury.
Ken Marsden, secretary treasurer for Teamsters Local 155 representing film and TV-sector workers in British Columbia, said he was surprised the city agreed to close the viaduct for Deadpool, but also pleased at the jobs the film production will create.
He acknowledged the inconvenience, but said the downside is outweighed by the benefits.
News of the production comes as B.C. appears to be on a roll as far as film and TV production is concerned.
"Right now, business is absolutely terrific," said Mr. Marsden, noting the good times linked to skilled crews, varied locations and a relatively low Canadian dollar follow a challenging period a few years ago.
In coming months, for example, production is expected in Metro Vancouver on Star Trek 3 and Tron 3. The feature film adaptation of the novel Fifty Shades of Grey was also shot in Vancouver (substituting for Seattle).
Mr. Dobrovolny said the production is making a $5,000 donation to an aboriginal youth soccer camp to be held during a coming conference.
Between April 6 and 16, the viaduct will be closed between 5 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays, with access restricted to one lane running by a 100-metre screened area in the evening, the city says.
On Sunday, April 5, filming will take place between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. On April 11, it will take place between 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. And the production has the option to use the viaduct on April 12, 17 and 18 for contingency purposes.
Mr. Dobrovolny said there won't be much point trying to observe exactly what Deadpool crews are shooting because screens will be raised along the roadway to block the view.
But he said he knows the viaduct will not be damaged. "I can say with certainty that the viaduct will not be blown up."
Ian Bailey