The Saskatchewan government has awarded the contract for Regina's new bypass to a consortium led by a French firm.

Vinci will play the lead role in the design and construction of the $1.2 billion P3 project.

The consortium is made up of 11 firms. Capital for the project will be raised by a Calgary firm, while a California company will be the lead builder.

Work is scheduled to begin this summer and is expected to take four years to complete.

The bypass will divert traffic on the Trans-Canada Highway around the city to alleviate congestion on Victoria Avenue East.