Changes Ease Traffic Around Film Set In Dealey Plaza
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DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) - Better, but not back to normal – that's how Downtown Dallas drivers described Wednesday's commute.
Warner Bros. is filming for the second day in a row in Dealey Plaza, which led to many road closures and detours this week.
The filming is for a mini-series based on 11/22/63 – Stephen King's time-traveling novel based on the assassination of President Kennedy.
City officials said the production company wanted to shoot during rush hour, so on Tuesday morning, road closures went up around the set.
That led to large traffic delays and confusion for drivers – something the city was apologizing for by that afternoon.
To ease the traffic snarl on Wednesday, the city added extra police officers at barricades to help direct traffic to alternative routes. They also talked with the production crew and pushed back the start of the shoot until 9 a.m., which allowed most people to reach work before the barricades were put in place.
While the headache wasn't over, drivers said it was much easier to navigate on Wednesday.
"People at work today said they got in fine. It wasn't a problem. A lot of people in my office were complaining [yesterday ] that it took them an extra 30 to 50 minutes just to go twelve blocks," said Keith Manning, who works at the Bank of America tower.
Some drivers like Megan Glaze, who was trying to get to the Dallas North Tollway, said it took longer to get through downtown than usual.
"I'm trying to map it on my phone, but I don't think it's going to help me get around this mess," said Glaze.
For Alex Guzman, it's a chance to go back in time.
He was a teenager working on a construction project on Elm Street, and witnessed President Kennedy's motorcade on that terrible day.
"Never heard so many sirens and seen so many policeman in your life as that day," Guzman said.
He's a volunteer extra in the film this week, driving his own vintage '54 Chevy in the scenes shot at Dealey Plaza.
"I'm luck y to be down here to be in the movie, after I'd seen [JFK] in person," said Guzman, who praised the production staff.
Filming wraps up on Thursday. Right now the City of Dallas has received no further requests for permits to shoot, but city officials say the production crew has expressed some interest in returning to Dallas in November.
For a full list of street closures, click here.
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