All Over Albany

HBO Ali movie shooting in Albany -- parking, traffic restrictions, action

The crew for the HBO film Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight will be shooting in downtown Albany Thursday and into Friday morning. There will be significant parking and traffic restrictions on Thursday -- for example, sections of Washington Ave will be shut down for chunks of time. The list is after the jump.

Incidentally, you can also use the restrictions a guide for when/where to gawk at the filming.

A description of the film via the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (link added):

The film centers on the cultural icon's battle with the United States government over his refusal to serve in the military due to his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. Ali was arrested and found guilty on draft evasion charges, and later stripped of his boxing title and had his boxing license suspended. While not imprisoned, he did not fight again for nearly four years while his appeal reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

The film is directed by Stephen Frears (The Queen, Dirty Pretty Things, High Fidelity). It includes stars such as Christopher Plummer, Danny Glover, Frank Langella, and Benjamin Walker (OK, not really a star yet, but he's Abe Lincoln in the upcoming Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. Yes, that's a real movie.) It looks like Ali will be appearing in the film as himself through archival film clips (which sounds a little odd).

Here's more about the story covered in the film from screenwriter Shawn Slovo. [Spectator (UK)]

photo: Ira Rosenberg via Wikipedia

Road Closures and Parking Restrictions for HBO Films production - May 10, 2012:

(via APD)

Location 1 - Washington Avenue between Dove Street and Eagle Street

Road Closures 9:30AM-4PM:

Washington Avenue, between Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith driveways east to Eagle Street

S. Swan Street, between State Street and Eagle Street

N. Hawk Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street

S. Swan Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street

Emergency No Parking:

Washington Ave, both sides from Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith Driveways east to Eagle Street(9AM-11PM)

Eagle Street, both sides from Pine Street to Columbia Street (9AM-4PM)

Elk Street, both sides from Eagle Street west 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)

N. Hawk Street, both sides from Washington Avenue to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)

S. Swan Street, both sides from Washington Ave to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)

S. Swan Street, both sides from State Street to Washington Ave (9AM-11PM)

Washington Avenue, south side from AE Smith Driveway west 5 spaces (Handicap) (9AM-11PM)

State Street, both sides from S. Swan Street east 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)

State Street both sides from Dove Street east 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from State Street north 2 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from Washington Avenue south 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from Elk Street to Washington Avenue (9AM-11PM)

CDTA Bus Re-routes

All eastbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:

Washington Ave eastbound to northbound Lark Street to eastbound Clinton Avenue to southbound N. Pearl Street to eastbound State Street

All westbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:

State Street westbound to northbound Eagle Street to westbound Elk Street to southbound Dove Street to westbound Washington Avenue

All northbound/eastbound buses coming from Empire State Plaza will detour on the following route:

S. Swan Street northbound to State Street eastbound, Continue eastbound on State Street east of Eagle Street

Location 2 - Pine Street between Eagle Street and Lodge Street

Road Closures 3PM-8PM:

Pine Street between Eagle Street and Lodge Street

Emergency No Parking:

Pine Street, both sides from Eagle Street to Lodge Street (2:30PM to 8PM)

CDTA Bus Routes:

NONE

Location 3 - Washington Avenue between Dove Street and Eagle Street (same as location 1)

Road Closures 7PM-11PM:

Washington Avenue, between Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith driveways east to Eagle Street

S. Swan Street, between State Street and Eagle Street

N. Hawk Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street

S. Swan Street, between Washington Avenue and Elk Street

Emergency No Parking:

Washington Ave, both sides from Ft. Orange Club/AE Smith Driveways east to Eagle Street(9AM-11PM)

Eagle Street, both sides from Pine Street to Columbia Street (9AM-4PM)

Elk Street, both sides from Eagle Street west 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)

N. Hawk Street, both sides from Washington Avenue to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)

S. Swan Street, both sides from Washington Ave to Elk Street (9AM-11PM)

S. Swan Street, both sides from State Street to Washington Ave (9AM-11PM)

Washington Avenue, south side from AE Smith Driveway west 5 spaces (Handicap) (9AM-11PM)

State Street, both sides from S. Swan Street east 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)

State Street both sides from Dove Street east 4 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from State Street north 2 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from Washington Avenue south 3 spaces (9AM-11PM)

Dove Street, both sides from Elk Street to Washington Avenue (9AM-11PM)

Location 4 - Greyhound Bus Terminal Hamilton & Dallius Streets

Road Closures May 10, 2012 11PM until May 11, 2012 6AM:

Green Street between Division Street and Madison Avenue

Dallius Street between Division Street and Green Street

Liberty St between Hamilton Street and Green Street

Hamilton Street between Green Street and Liberty Street

Pruyne Street between Broadway and Liberty Street

Emergency No Parking:

Green Street, both sides between Division and Madison

Dallius Street between Hamilton and Green

Liberty Street between Green and Liberty

Hamilton Street between Green Street and Liberty

Pruyne Street between Broadway and Liberty

CDTA Bus Re-routes

All eastbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:

Washington Ave eastbound to northbound Lark Street to eastbound Clinton Avenue to southbound N. Pearl Street to eastbound State Street

All westbound Washington Avenue buses will detour on the following route:

State Street westbound to northbound Eagle Street to westbound Elk Street to southbound Dove Street to westbound Washington Avenue

All northbound/eastbound buses coming from Empire State Plaza will detour on the following route:

S. Swan Street northbound to State Street eastbound, Continue eastbound on State Street east of Eagle Street