Street closures ahead for downtown St. Charles for filming of Netflix movie, parade

Closures and detours will impact Main Street/Route 64 in downtown St. Charles beginning Thursday to accommodate the filming of a movie near the Main Street Bridge and the annual St. Patrick's Parade two days later.

The Netflix production, titled "The Killer," is directed by David Fincher and stars Michael Fassbender and Tilda Swinton. Fincher has directed box office thrillers "Gone Girl," "Seven" and "Fight Club." Fassbender plays a contract killer in the movie, which is based on a French graphic novel.

Main Street between Fifth Avenue and Third Street will be closed to all vehicular traffic from 5 p.m. until 6 a.m. Thursday and Friday. Police will be on-site to assist drivers around the detour each night. Drivers are encouraged to avoid downtown and use alternate routes and bridges to cross the river unless specifically visiting downtown.

All area restaurants and businesses will remain open and welcome patrons during the filming. Production will begin Thursday and is expected to finish March 18. The production crew will be in St. Charles beginning Monday.

All on-street parking will be prohibited on Main Street between the Main Street Bridge and Fourth Avenue beginning Thursday until the end of the St. Patrick's Parade Saturday. All on-street parking on Riverside Avenue between State Avenue and Walnut Avenue is prohibited Thursday and Friday, but will reopen at 6 a.m. Saturday.

The city's south parking lot at the Municipal Center and Lot E at the southeast corner of Routes 34 and 31 will be closed at 5 a.m. Thursday and reopen Saturday. Lot E reopens at 6 a.m. and the lot at the Municipal Center will reopen after the parade. From Monday through March 18, the site of the former police department, city lot P and the fifth level of the west side parking deck will be closed for filming.

The St. Patrick's Parade at 2 p.m. Saturday and with it comes a full closure of Main Street between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Street beginning at 1:45 p.m. The detour route will guide drivers traveling along Main Street from the east to go either north to the Red Gate Bridge across the river or south to Illinois Avenue, west to Seventh Street and back north to Main Street.

There will be no parking along Main Street during the parade.