It's a controversial undertaking, and it has begun.
The work to install lights on the Jacques Cartier bridge at a cost of just under 40-mllion dollars for Montreal's big birthday next year is underway.
"We took an elevator, slowly, 350 feet up the side of the Jacques Cartier bridge. Workers here are installing a tube light, one of nearly 3,000 lights that will be fixed to the bridge by May 17th for Montreal's 375th birthday. It's not a project that can be rushed" reported CTV's Angela MacKenzie.
Officials said workers are installing steel beams, which will facilitate the process of putting up the lights.
The federal government will foot most of the bill, 30-million, the rest comes from the city.
As much as 10.4 kilometres of cabling will be required to illuminate the bridge, and 10,000 mounting systems will secure the lighting fixtures.
Work is being done around the clock by 100 workers, including steelworkers and electricians, to complete the project on time.
Roughly a quarter of the work has been completed.
The Coderre administration has been heavily criticized for the cost of the project.
- With files from CTV News