Serving the Loop and Near North neighborhoods of downtown Chicago
Filming along Chicago River planned for not one but two movies

August 20, 2013 – Neighbors of the Chicago River were notified on Tuesday about filming along the river scheduled for Sunday morning from a low-flying helicopter. So low, in fact, it will fly through three raised bridges.

Shooting for Transformers 4, the helicopter will fly over the lowered DuSable Bridge at Michigan Avenue, then dip to fly through the raised bridges at Wabash Avenue, State Street, and Dearborn Street. This same stunt was done two years ago almost to the day for a six-second shot that made it into the previous Transformers sequel.

Photo by Steven Dahlman (Left) A helicopter has just flown through the raised bridges at Michigan Avenue, Wabash Avenue, and State Street on August 21, 2010, and is seen here starting to turn around directly in front of Marina City. (Click on image to view larger version.)

“We are excited to return to Chicago to capture the same unique Chicago look and remarkable architecture we found so cinematic in 2010,” reads a memo to building owners, merchants, and residents.

The filming will take place on Sunday from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. Pedestrians and vehicles will have to detour around the raised bridges as well as some nearby streets. If you are crossing a lowered bridge, the Riverwalk, a nearby plaza, or if you are on a boat, expect 10-15 minute delays during actual filming.

The helicopter, says the memo, will be traveling east and west along the main branch of the Chicago River between Columbus Drive and Franklin/Orleans Street (see map below), and south between Franklin and Lake Street. The Wabash, State, and Dearborn bridges will be raised simultaneously and remain up for most of the two hours.

Google Maps

According to an assistant location manager, one of the other science fiction films being shot in Chicago this summer, Jupiter Ascending, will also fly a helicopter up and down the main branch of the river on Sunday morning. As soon as filming for that movie finishes, a Transformers 4 crew will fly essentially the same route.

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