Vancouver is bracing commuters for a blockbuster-sized headache next month.
Upcoming Marvel superhero movie Deadpool, starring Vancouver native Ryan Reynolds, is shooting in the city and crews will be using the Georgia Viaduct for what filmmakers describe as a “critical scene.”
That means near-daily closures for almost two weeks in April, though officials have promised to schedule the shoot to minimize impact on rush hour traffic.
From April 6 to 16, the viaduct flowing out of the downtown core will be closed from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays. After 3, the viaduct will be fully reopened save for a 100-metre area that will be one-lane only.
The viaduct will also be closed from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, April 5 and from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, April 11.
Filmmakers have the option of using the viaduct on April 12, 17 and 18 for the 20th Century Fox production if needed as well.
The City of Vancouver boasted the Deadpool shoot will be a nice boost for the local economy, spending more than $37.5 million and hiring more than 1,100 people.
“This collaboration with 20th Century Fox is more exciting news for our growing economy and another important way of showing that Vancouver is open for business for major motion pictures,” Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a press release.
The westbound Dunsmuir Viaduct won't be affected by filming, according to the city.
Deadpool is considered the eighth film in the X-Men film series; Reynolds first portrayed the wise-cracking comic character in the spinoff film X-Men Origins: Wolverine. It’s scheduled to be released on Feb. 12, 2016.
For more information on road closures, visit the Vancouver roadwork website.
@CTVVancouver if he's repaying us by walking around shirtless then I'm A-OK with that.
— Sharon Gallagher (@SherGallagher) March 19, 2015
@CTVVancouver worth it for @deadpoolmovie
— garrett dodd (@garrettdodd) March 19, 2015