The Skyway in Buffalo was shut down for a few hours Tuesday so a film crew can shoot a scene. WBFO'S Eileen Buckley says the filming began around 10 a.m. and at 2 p.m.
"I just can tell you that it is a real big project with sort of national and international exposure, so it's really good for Buffalo," said Tim Clark, commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara Film Commission.
Clark has signed non-disclosure agreements so he could not say what is being filmed and who will be here Tuesday. But Clark says its a positive event.
"This is the first time in my lifetime that I recall the Skyway being closed for a good reason. Usually it's a car wreck or a snow storm or something like that," said Clark. "But in this particular case it's really going to be good for Buffalo's economy. Because we are putting local people to work, they're staying at local hotels they are using local caters and vendors."
The Skyway was closed between the 190 and Ohio Street.
A source tells WBFO News its the television series Top Gear that will filming high-a-top of the Skway span. There are two Top Gear shows -- the BBC series and an American version that airs on the History Channel about motoring.
But Clark was not allowed to identify the purpose of the filming. He could only offer details of why producers were interested in the Skyway.
"When we scouted with producers of this show last week, we had taken them to a variety of places that they were interested in," said Clark. "We just happen to drive over the Skyway and like a light bulb went off, that's when the discussion arouse from the producer who said 'hey how crazy would it be for me to ask you know the possible of getting this roadway we are on'."
Clark contacted the Senator Tim Kennedy of Buffalo. Kennedy called the state Department of Transportation for approval to close the section of the Skyway and they agreed. And while that section of the Skyway was closed to traffic, the DOT conducted some inspection work without traffic driving past.