About

The Jacques Cartier Bridge Living Connections is a unique interactive lighting concept that, for years to come, will be activated in real time by the seasons.

This ambitious, innovative luminous signature is a tribute to an iconic feature of Montreal’s urban landscape.

Lighting directed to four areas of the bridge’s steel superstructure: the turrets, piers, interior core, and exterior skin.
The soft lighting is directed towards the structure, which minimizes light loss and avoids washing out starlight.

Project highlights

The illumination of The Jacques Cartier Bridge brings Quebec know-how to the forefront and strikes the imagination by carving a prominent place in the rich heritage of the metropolis :

10.4 km of cabling needed to illuminate the bridge (for data transfer and electrical power).
2,807 projectors and tube lighting illuminates the steel superstructure to reflect the activity of the city
50,000 hours of lighting fixtures lifespan with energy-efficient LED technology.
10,000 mounting systems to secure the lighting fixtures to the steel supports on the bridge (about 5 per light).

Thanks to intelligent programming, this first connected bridge comes alive every night. An iconic landmark during the day, the bridge comes to life at sunset, marks the new day at the stroke of midnight, and goes into sleep mode at daybreak.

As the seasons change, so do the lights

The bridge changes with the seasons thanks to a 365-colour calendar. Day after day, it gradually changes from an energizing spring green to a radiant summer orange, a voluptuous fall red, and finally an icy winter blue. The light subtly evokes the passage of time.

Hourly show

Every hour at night, short 5-minute animations visually translate Montreal’s mood based on different types of daily data: the weather, traffic, the colours of the sky, and more.

Half of each hour is marked by a scintillation lasting a little over a minute.

''Half-masting'' for the illumination

Being a federal Crown corporation, JCCBI ensures that the illumination of the Jacques Cartier Bridge follows the notices of half-masting of the Canadian flag, issued by Canadian Heritage. “Half-masting” for the illumination also occurs when the Government of Quebec announces the holding of state funeral or national funeral.

The annual illumination programming is then interrupted exceptionally, and the illumination is dimmed or “half-mast”.

On August 2, 2021, JCCBI modified the procedure for “half-masting” the illumination of the Jacques Cartier Bridge.

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