The Main Street Bridge will be congested beginning at 8 p.m. Friday, but it won't be from traffic or boats passing underneath.
Instead, the Downtown drawbridge will be the site of a music video being recorded for rapper Rick Ross for his song "Box Chevy."
Jacksonville Sheriff's Office will be using hold-and-release traffic patterns until 5:30 a.m. Saturday.
Jeffrey Harper, executive producer at Miami-based Dre Films, said Wednesday that about 30 staff and production crew were en route to Jacksonville for the shoot and will stay through the weekend using local amenities.
Dre Films and Hollywood-based Facet Media LLC secured the permit for the bridge closure, according to the sheriff's office.
Harper said the reasons behind choosing Jacksonville for the production include Ross referring to the city in his song and the bridge being "historic, iconic."
In addition to the bridge, Harper said the video would include the Florida Theatre.
He said Ross and producers were in town last weekend to see the locales in person and liked the visuals enough to decide on making Jacksonville the production location.
Harper said production costs vary, but the Jacksonville shoot would be about $30,000.
He said he worked with the City and Todd Roobin of the Film & Television Department on arranging the deal, obtaining permits and making the production a reality.
"He's been great, very helpful," Harper said of Roobin.
Roobin was out of the office and unavailable for comment about the project and the economics and work behind such deals.
Mayor Alvin Brown spokeswoman Aleizha Batson said the City is assessing the economic impact of the production and would make the information available when it is compiled.
Harper advised that curious onlookers should not show during the production, which combined with hold-and-release traffic management could slow production.
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