Three groups have been shortlisted to compete for the biggest transportation and infrastructure project in Saskatchewan's history, the Regina Bypass P3 Project. Saskatchewan is a province in central Canada.

The Regina Bypass Project is expected to cost CA$1 billion. A public-private partnership, or P3 model, will see a private company build it and maintain it.  Three consortiums of builders and financiers are in the final lap to be the builder.  They're known as:

Queen City Infrastructure Group

• HOCHTIEF
• Aecon
• InfraRed
• Flatiron
• AECOM
• Tetra Tech
• MMM Group
• Volker Stevin Highways
• CIBC

SaskLink Global Transportation Partners

• VINCI
• GraCorp Capital
• Parsons
• Graham
• Carmacks
• McElhanney
• Urban Systems
• Buckland and Taylor
• exp
• Clifton Associates
• Delcan
• National Bank of Canada

Wascana Development Partners

• SNC"Lavalin
• Kiewit
• Stantec
• AMEC
• WF Botkin Construction
• Westridge Construction
• Scotiabank

SaskBuilds Minister Gordon Wyant says this moves the project another step closer to the start of construction. He said:

"Having three very experienced and qualified teams will drive the level of competition we want to get the best price and quality for taxpayers. The P3 model will be more cost effective, as well as ensuring it's done on time and with private-sector innovation in design and construction."

The Regina Bypass Project is located in the immediate vicinity of Regina, the capital of the Province of Saskatchewan. Regina has a population of approximately 200,000 and has experienced significant population growth in recent years, a trend which is expected to continue in the immediate term.

The Project consists of a free flow highway corridor through the Regina Region and includes approximately 58 km of 4-lane highway (including 40 km of new 4-lane highway) and service roads along with a number of interchanges and intersections.

It will begin on Highway 11 northwest of Regina and run south to Highway 1, then wrap about 5 kilometres south of the city to rejoin Highway 1 on the east. The project includes overpasses at the Pilot Butte Access Road, Highway 48 at White City and Highway 46 at Balgonie.

Regina has an existing ring road, but the city has built up around it and access from the east is congested from time to time.

The province expects that the new bypass project could be completed in four years once the procurement process is completed.

Highways and Infrastructure Minister Nancy Heppner said:

"The Regina Bypass Project will reduce congestion, improve traffic safety and have profound impacts on the economy of the Regina area and Saskatchewan as a whole."