Designers unveiled 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 federal bridge authority is contributing $30 million toward the project. An additional $9.5 million is coming from the 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 lights on the 2.5-kilometre structure and its turrets.

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

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

Approximately 2,800 lights will be used to illuminate the Jacques Cartier Bridge in time for Montreal's 375th anniversary. (Elias Abboud/CBC)

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 on May 17, 2017, the date of Montreal's 375th anniversary.

Project leaders describe it as "a unique interactive lighting concept activated in real time by the seasons and the energy of the city.” 2:58

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 Montreal to go ahead with the plan at its current cost.

Fifty-two per cent said they'd be in favour of the project if it cost less money and 30 per cent said they don't approve of the project at all.