Hundreds of lights to illuminate Jacques Cartier Bridge

Designersunveiled details on Wednesday for a contentious $39.5-million plan to light up the Jacques Cartier Bridge for Montreal's 375th and Canada's 150th anniversaries.

The federalbridge authority is contributing$30 million toward the project. An additional$9.5 million is coming fromthe Society for the Celebrations of Montreal's 375th Anniversary which is funded by the City of Montreal, the Quebec government and private funding.

Starting this fall, engineering firm Pomerleau will begin to install approximately 2,800 lightson the 2.5-kilometre structureand its turrets.

The lighting will be directed at the bridge structure to avoid washing out starlight.

Thesquarelights will turn 365 shades of colours, depending on the season and events going on in the city.

The project is called "Living Connections" and the bridge corporation calls it a showcase of the city's creative and engineering talents.

It's scheduled to be unveiled onMay 17, 2017, the date of Montreal's 375th anniversary.

See how MTL375 and Moment Factory plan to illuminate the Jacques-Cartier Bridge

9 years ago

Duration 2:58

Project leaders describe it as "a unique interactive lighting concept activated in real time by the seasons and the energy of the city.

Earlier this year, the findings of a CROP poll that surveyed 1,000 Quebecers, mainly living in the Montreal area,suggested few approve of the plan as is.

Only eight per cent of respondents said they want Montrealto go ahead with the plan at its current cost.

Fifty-two per centsaidthey'd be in favour of the project if it cost less money and30 per cent saidthey don't approve of the project at all.

• Montreal's 375th plan to light Jacques Cartier bridge finds little support