Filming for the new Ocean’s movie got underway in Monaco this Monday, bringing five mornings of road closures and significant changes to bus services as the Hollywood production moves through some of the Principality’s most recognisable locations.
Monaco Life first revealed the filming schedule on 14th August, including plans for scenes around Port Hercule, Monte-Carlo and Larvotto. Now, as production begins, the Monaco Government has released a comprehensive traffic plan showing exactly how residents and commuters will be affected.
The restrictions run through to Friday 28th August, with most road closures in force between 5am and 10am. Residents are exempt where possible, although their journeys may be temporarily stopped while cameras are rolling, and authorities warn that arrangements could change according to the needs of the shoot.
Filming begins at Port Hercule
For anyone travelling through Monaco this Monday, the immediate impact is around Port Hercule.
Avenue J.F. Kennedy and Boulevard Louis II are closed between 5am and 10am, along with Route de la Piscine between Parking Louis Chiron and Quai des États-Unis.
The operation becomes considerably larger on Tuesday, when cameras move through central Monaco. Closures will include Boulevard Albert Ier, Avenue de la Costa, the Costa slip road, Avenue d’Ostende and the Sainte-Dévote roundabout, Passage de la Porte Rouge and Tunnel Rocher Albert Ier.
Sections of Boulevard de Suisse, Avenue Princesse Alice, Rue Suffren Reymond and Rue Louis Notari are also affected, together with Avenue Henry Dunant and Rue Princesse Antoinette.
Traffic will be reorganised around the closures. Vehicles leaving Quai Antoine Ier must head towards Tunnel Rocher-Noghès, while those coming from Boulevard Louis II will be directed towards Route de la Piscine. Parts of Rue Suffren Reymond will temporarily change direction and a section of Rue Louis Notari will operate two-way.
From Monte-Carlo to the Casino
On Wednesday, the production moves towards Avenue des Citronniers, Avenue des Spélugues and sections of Avenue Princesse Grace and Avenue de la Madone.
Thursday will see the production take over some of Monaco’s most prominent addresses.
Place du Casino will close between 5am and 10am, together with Boulevard Albert Ier, Avenue d’Ostende, Avenue de Monte-Carlo, Avenue des Spélugues, Avenue des Citronniers, Avenue Princesse Alice and Avenue de la Costa. Sections of Avenue de la Madone and Avenue Princesse Grace will also be inaccessible.
The final morning, Friday, shifts the disruption towards Portier and Larvotto, while also returning to parts of the port. Avenue des Spélugues, Avenue des Citronniers, Avenue d’Ostende, Avenue J.F. Kennedy, Boulevard Louis II and Avenue Princesse Grace are among the closures, together with the Portier roundabout and the Larvotto and Costa slip roads.
Bus passengers face widespread disruption
The Government’s latest announcement also gives a much clearer picture of what the shoot will mean for public transport.
From the beginning of service until 10am every morning through Friday, numerous stops on CAM Lines 1, 2, 3 and 5 will not be served.
More significantly, Line 6 and X3 will not operate at all before 10am. Line 4 and X1 are unaffected, while X2 will terminate at Monte-Carlo and skip Portier.
The disruption extends beyond Monaco’s own network. ZOU! Lines 600 and 80 will bypass a number of their usual stops in the Principality until 10am, with replacement stops being used at locations including Pont Sainte-Dévote, Crémaillère, Honoré II, Office de Tourisme and Place des Moulins.
Parking restrictions already in force
Parking bans will move with the production throughout the week, generally beginning at 3am on the morning of filming.
One longer restriction applies to Avenue des Citronniers from Wednesday morning through to the end of Friday, while parking opposite 4 bis Quai Antoine Ier has been prohibited since Sunday lunchtime and remains so until 11.59pm Friday.
Quai Albert Ier is also closed to pedestrians throughout the production period, from midday Sunday until 11.59pm Friday.
The Government continues to describe the project simply as an “important cinematographic production”. As Monaco Life previously reported, however, the dates correspond with the Monaco shoot for the upcoming Ocean’s Eleven prequel starring Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper.
Margot Robbie, Bradley Cooper and Monica Barbaro have been photographed filming the Ocean’s Eleven prequel in Paris this past week.
The production is expected to recreate Monaco around the time of the 1962 Grand Prix, with Cooper also directing.
See also:
Bradley Cooper spotted at Monaco Historic Grand Prix amid Ocean’s prequel buzz
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Photo credit: Cassandra Tanti, Monaco Life