NMDOT Identifies I-40 & I-25 Film Production Shooting Plans at Two Locations Nov. 2-5
Contact: Mark Slimp, Chief PIO, NMDOT (505) 231-1935October 31, 2009, ALBUQUERQUE — New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) officials along with local law enforcement, the New Mexico Film Office, City of Albuquerque Film Liaison and Warner Bros., the production company for the movie “Due Date,” met to discuss the traffic control and traffic flow problems that occurred on Interstate 40 Saturday evening, October 24. Traffic delays resulted during of the filming of the movie “Due Date” that required the closure of I-40 eastbound at Paseo Del Volcan.
It was determined that in retrospect the location of the closure was a poor choice; particularly when coupled with an earlier serious accident west of the project and the added traffic leaving a sporting event just west of the film project. These factors, plus unusually heavy truck traffic last Saturday night, added up to an unacceptable level of disruption to the traveling public. The film industry is a vital component of the New Mexico economy, bringing much-needed jobs and revenue into the state. As such the NMDOT is always willing to assist by making filming sites around the state accessible for various film production companies, while maintaining safe roadways and expedient movement for all travelers. The traffic slowdowns and delays caused by the Saturday evening filming, were truly unfortunate, and despite a great deal of pre-planning by NMDOT, the “Due Date” production company and various other agencies and law enforcement departments, the situation deteriorated to unacceptable levels. All parties have addressed the issues that contributed to the tie-ups and adjustments have been made to allow the film crew to complete the work it had halted last Saturday. (It should be noted that the film company voluntarily stopped their filming last Saturday night when they realized that the traffic situation was untenable.) The NMDOT believes that with the adjustments now being proposed, traffic impact and slowdowns can be kept at tolerable levels while allowing the film project to complete their last scenes to wrap up that particular location shoot. I-40 Traffic Plan Details A closure of I-40 eastbound will begin Wednesday, November 4, at 10 p.m. (3 hours later than the start time during the closure last week) and continuing through 5 a.m. Thursday. Traffic will now exit at the 98th St. interchange instead of the West Central/Paseo Del Volcan Interchange. This proposed exit of I-40 traffic has better roadway geometrics than the ramp at I-40 West Central/Paseo Del Volcan. Traffic will proceed south to Central Avenue, then east to Unser, then north back to I-40. Law enforcement personnel and traffic safety control workers will be stationed at the Central and Unser and Central and 98th Street intersections to assure the most efficient operation at the intersection and to direct traffic as required to keep up a steady movement of motorists. In the recent past, NMDOT has utilized this detour plan with positive results in conjunction with normal road construction projects in this area. In addition to this filming on I-40, the “Due Date” production company will also be shooting additional scenes Tuesday night, November 3, on I-25 south of the airport. I-25 Traffic Plan Details On Tuesday, November 3, starting at 10 p.m. and continuing through 5 a.m. Wednesday morning, southbound I-25 traffic will be diverted at the Sunport exit to University Rd South. At the intersection of University South and Rio Bravo, traffic will be redirected back to I-25 and Rio Bravo, onto the I-25 southbound entrance ramp. The NMDOT will continue to monitor both situations and make additional adjustments whenever necessary.
