SAN DIEGO -- Three teams of artists from France, the United Kingdom and California have been selected as finalists to light up the Coronado Bridge, the Port of San Diego announced Monday.

The finalists are the Bideau Company of Ballan-Mire, France; Peter Fink of London; and Ned Kahn/Patrick McInerney Associates/Jason Edling.

The port launched an international search in April for an artist to design the artistic illumination of the 2.12-mile-long bridge, which connects downtown San Diego and Coronado.

The selected design teams will be paid a stipend of $15,000 to cover fees, research, accommodations and travel for public presentations at the end of the year, according to the port.

The entire project is expected to cost $2-$3 million for design, fabrication and installation and will be funded through private means or by grants, port officials said.

The project is a collaboration between the Port of San Diego and California Department of Transportation.