In 2020, major work began at the South Shore entrance to the Jacques Cartier Bridge with the construction of a new building for JCCBI’s Operations and Maintenance team.
For the next phase of this project, the former toll booth located in this area, which is obsolete, will be deconstructed in the coming months. The site will then be redeveloped and greened starting in 2025. As part of this new development, JCCBI wants to add a piece of public art.
As a manager of important infrastructure, JCCBI helps people get where they need to go and upholds the safety and longevity of our infrastructure while ensuring that our structures blend with their surroundings and benefit the community. The addition of an artwork at this area will help incorporate the bridge into its surroundings while enhancing the site.
This site is the location of our building for our Operations and Maintenance team. It is also used for towing operations and required police services on the bridge. The redevelopment and the artwork will contribute to improve the South Shore entrance for all users.
From February 26 to November 30, 2024, steel painting work is taking place on the main span of the bridge on the sidewalk (downstream) side. These works will have a partial impact on certain sections of the illumination.
Furthermore, during a half-masting of the Canadian flag, which affects all Government of Canada buildings and institutions, the bridge illumination is toned down.
The Jacques Cartier Bridge lights up every day at sunset. However, during a half-masting of the Canadian flag, which affects all Government of Canada buildings and institutions, the bridge illumination is toned down.
Being a federal Crown corporation, The Jacques Cartier and Champlain Bridges Incorporated ensures that the illumination of the Jacques Cartier Bridge follows the notices of half-masting of the Canadian flag, issued by Canadian Heritage, normally for a period of 24 hours. The annual illumination programming is then interrupted exceptionally, and the illumination is dimmed or “half-mast”. This procedure will be maintained, except in the case of half-masting notices issued for an undetermined period: in such cases, the bridge illumination will be dimmed for a maximum of 7 consecutive days.
The budget envelope for this project was $39.7 million. This budget included costs for the concept, design, execution and expenses to operate and maintain the installation over 10 years.
The Corporation provided $30 million of the total project cost. The rest of the funding came from the Society for the Celebration of Montréal’s 375th Anniversary. Costs for the illumination project included costs for the concept, design, execution, and expenses to operate and maintain the installation over 10 years.
JCCBI will be proud to use its expertise to oversee for 10 years the illumination project on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, which was developed by Moment Factory and its partners.
This installation is not a billboard. The illumination of the bridge and its original concept of seasonal colours and “living connections” must remain the primary attraction so as not to distort the nature of the project.
However, the bridge may be used to recognize some major events, for example during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the bridge was illuminated in the colours of the rainbow (the “ça va bien aller” campaign).
Special illuminations of the Jacques Cartier Bridge can’t be arranged since the Living Connections concept was designed with smart programming. This means that the illumination is activated by millions of data points that pulse to the beat of the city, particularly activity on social networks. The bridge also changes colours with the seasons according to a 365-colour calendar.
This unique work differs from other systems in place to illuminate different buildings or structures in Quebec. The bridge illumination programming is continuous: it is activated automatically every day at sunset and turned off at sunrise.
Did you know that you can make the Jacques Cartier Bridge shine even brighter?
You can! In fact, the bridge lights constantly react to Montreal’s energy with a discreet movement of light fragments up and down the structure. The intensity, speed and density of the light fragments change depending on how often #illuminationMTL hashtag is used on social media.
To learn more about the concept, visit the Illumination of the Jacques Cartier Bridge page.
The programming is automated and preset based on an interactive illumination concept developed by a consortium of seven Montreal lighting and multimedia companies led by Moment Factory. JCCBI is responsible for the system for a 10-year period.
The Jacques Cartier Bridge lights up at sunset. You can find the expected time for today’s date on the National Research Council Canada website.
Every day at sunset!
Every hour, the dominant themes from the media add colour to the bridge: green for environment, turquoise for technology, yellow for business, blue for sports, pink for institutions (religion, politics and justice), red for society (health, education and lifestyle) and purple for the arts.
Since January 2018, a short one-minute light show comes on every half hour.
See the map of the best view spots.
The estimated electricity costs are approximately $30,000 to $40,000 a year. This estimate will be refined over the year once we have accumulated a longer consumption history.
Unfortunately, the Île Sainte-Hélène pavilion building cannot be rented out as it is currently undergoing structural repairs that will continue for several years.
While this work is ongoing, JCCBI is considering how this building will be used in the future.
The pedestrian crossing used to be a purely functional corridor for pedestrians and cyclists that was not very inviting. The mural brings this passageway alive, increases the feeling of safety for users, and improves its integration with the surrounding urban environment.
These projects are part of the Corporation’s broader mission to improve the urban integration, functionality and aesthetic appeal of the structures under its responsibility. These projects are part of our mission to use systemic management and a sustainable development approach to ensure that the major infrastructure under our responsibility lasts as long as possible.
The money invested is minimal compared to our major maintenance budget.
Consult this map for the access points to get onto the Jacques Cartier Bridge. JCCBI does not have parking facilities and encourages everyone to use public transit to attend the event.
The sidewalk and the multipurpose path will be completely closed between 7:45 p.m. and 11:45 p.m. during these events.
Plan your trips by follow us on Twitter @mobiliteactive and subscribe to our Active Mobility email alert.
Only pedestrians, strollers and people with reduced mobility will have access to the bridge; bicycles will not be allowed on the bridge.
Chemical toilets will be available on the Jacques Cartier Bridge during these events, near the Jean-Drapeau Park exit ramp, towards Montréal.
Spectators are allowed to bring their folding chairs during the fireworks at the Jacques Cartier Bridge.
According to the Sûreté du Québec, between 6,000 and 18,000 people attend the fireworks on the bridge each night.
To find out about safety measures during the fireworks on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, visit the fireworks web page.
To find out the location of the two smoking areas on the Jacques Cartier Bridge, visit the instructions and smoking areas page.
In order to ensure a smoke-free environment for all spectators, smoking is now prohibited on the bridge during fireworks displays, except in designated areas, which is the case for a number of public events in Quebec. Thus, two smoking areas will be in place on bridge in strategic locations during these events.