Hollywood Streets Are Already Closing for The Oscars

Drivers in Hollywood are already feeling the effects of Sunday's 89th Academy Awards, as streets around the Dolby Theater are closed so crews can begin erecting bleachers and making way for the red carpet.

Some lane restrictions and sidewalk closures have been in effect in the Hollywood tourist district for almost a week, but the biggest impact began at 6 p.m. Sunday night, when all lanes of Hollywood Boulevard were closed between Orange Drive and Highland Avenue. That stretch will remain blocked until 6 a.m. on March 3.

Most of the Oscar ceremony accouterments will be removed from Hollywood Boulevard by the morning of March 1, however, two movie premieres are planned in the same area on March 1 and March 2, resulting in the extended closure until March 3.

Other closures now in effect are:

-- The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard between Orange and Highland is closed, with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access.

-- The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the Dolby Theatre portal is closed.

-- The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to Orange, with the exception of an 8-foot pedestrian access, is closed.

-- The pedestrian mid-block crosswalk on Hollywood Boulevard between Highland and Orange is closed.

At 10 p.m. today, the Hawthorn Alley on the east side of the El Capitan Theatre will close from Hollywood Boulevard south 210 feet.

On Friday -- two days before the show -- Hawthorn Avenue will close between Highland and Orange.

On Saturday, the day before the show, a series of other closures will begin:

-- Orchid Street will close from 60 feet south of Franklin Boulevard to Orchid Alley.

-- Orange will close from Orchid Alley to Hollywood Boulevard.

-- The north and south sidewalks of Hawthorn Avenue will close from Highland to Orange.

-- The north sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard will close completely from Highland to Orange.

-- The west sidewalk of Highland will close from Johnny Grant Way south to Hollywood Boulevard.

-- Johnny Grant Way from Highland to Orchid Street will close.

On Oscar Sunday, Feb. 26, the following restrictions will take effect:

-- The remainder of Hawthorn Alley from Orange to Highland will close.

-- Orange will close from Hawthorn to Hollywood Boulevard.

-- The north and south sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard from Highland to 300 feet east of Highland will close.

-- The south sidewalk of Hollywood Boulevard will close directly in front of the north-south running Hawthorn Alley.

-- The east and west sidewalks of Highland from Hollywood Boulevard to Hawthorn will close.

-- The east sidewalk of Highland will close from Yucca Street south to the alley.

-- The north and south crosswalks on Hollywood Boulevard at the Highland intersection.

-- Hollywood Boulevard will be closed from La Brea Boulevard to Orange Drive, and from Highland Avenue to Cahuenga Boulevard.

-- Hawthorn Avenue will close between Orange Drive and La Brea, and from Highland and McCadden Place.

-- McCadden Place will close from Yucca Street to Hollywood Boulevard.

-- Wilcox Avenue will close between Sunset and Cahuenga boulevards.

On Oscar Sunday, Metro Red Line trains will bypass the Hollywood and Highland station. Regular service will resume at 6 a.m. Feb. 27. Metro bus routes along Hollywood Boulevard will be re-routed during the street closures.