Jacques Cartier bridge, Montreal, Canada

Standing: Notable
Rank: Rank 652 of 6,058

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Jacques Cartier bridge

The Jacques Cartier Bridge is a steel truss cantilever bridge across the Saint Lawrence River, linking Montreal Island with Longueuil on the south shore. Designed by engineer Philip Louis Pratley, it opened to traffic on 14 May 1930 as the Harbour Bridge and was renamed in 1934 to honour Jacques Cartier, the explorer who mapped the St. Lawrence valley in 1534. The five-lane bridge is 3,425.6 metres long including its approach viaducts, and it crosses Saint Helen's Island, where ramps lead to Parc Jean-Drapeau and La Ronde.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

Since 2017, when it was refitted for the 150th anniversary of Canada and the 375th anniversary of Montreal, the bridge has carried the Living Connections lighting, whose colours and animations are scheduled to run until 2027. A chromatic calendar of 365 colours follows the seasons, while fifty-three kinds of Montreal data, including weather, traffic, noise and social-media activity, drive the light movements. The bridge's western sidewalk, widened to 2.44 metres in 2001–2002, is a bike path.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

Place details and sources

Wheelchair access: Available OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place: Viewpoint OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09

Common questions

When did the bridge open?

It opened to traffic on 14 May 1930.

Can you cycle across the bridge?

Yes. The western sidewalk was made a bike path in 2001–2002.

Is the bridge lit at night?

Yes. Decorative lighting was installed in 2017 for Canada's 150th and Montreal's 375th anniversaries.

Where it is

Open directions in Google Maps

Nearby

Within 14 min on foot

2 hours
7 min walk
La Ronde
- Must see
- Entertainment venue
45 min
8 min walk
Phoenix
- High
- Historic site
45 min
14 min walk
Montreal Clock Tower
- Must see · Heritage site
- Historic site