Esplanade Preps Well Underway For 2011 Boston Pops 4th Of July Spectacular

BOSTON (CBS) - Preparations continued at the Hatch Shell and along the banks of the Charles River on Saturday.

Crews were working at a break-neck pace to get ready for Monday night's big Fourth of July fireworks extravaganza and Pops concert.

There will be road closures in effect Sunday and Monday.

WBZ-TV's Jim Smith reports

The gate opening for Sunday the third has been pushed back an hour-and-a-half to 5:30pm.

"Everything's coming together but because of the sudden change in artist where Martina McBride has stepped in We have to fly her in in the morning on the third so she's going to rehears on the afternoon of the third then we'll open up and get ready for a great show," said the event's co-producer Rich McDonald.

Related: Information on the 4th and a survival guide to the esplanade

Coverage of the "Boston Pops Fireworks Spectacular" airs on WBZ NewsRadio 1030 and on WBZ-TV Monday night.