LOCKPORT, N.Y. -- Drive-in movie theaters, one-by-one, all over the country, have shut down for good. Not the Transit Drive-In in Lockport, which is expanding.
"We decided to add an additional screen with an additional 250 car spots and to be able to meet the demand for the big summer movies in June, July and August," said Rick Cohen, drive-in owner.
Cohen says in years past and as recently as last weekend, they've had to turn customers away who come to see the most popular blockbusters. He says the fifth screen was up and running last weekend for a big premiere.
"When we opened the new screen on Saturday, we had Finding Dory on two screens and we were able to accommodate all of that demand and get everyone into the theatre and we had very few disappointed people," said Cohen.
There were obstacles. Susan Surdej from the Department of Transportation says the DOT wouldn't approve the permit for the 5th screen until the drive-in addressed a traffic issue on Transit Road.
"We needed to eliminate the queuing of traffic on Transit Road for safety reasons," said Surdej.
The marquee sign was moved farther down the road away from its original location in front of the box office. Cars will line up in a new two-lane driveway.
"We're able to reorganize the traffic flow right on their property so we could get cars off the median and off the shoulder on Transit Road," said Surdej.
"To accommodate more vehicles off of the road before they get to the ticket office and hopefully make the road safer for everyone," said Cohen.
The new screen is up and will be operating this weekend, showing the "Secret Life of Pets."