The UK Department for Transport has announced a new £165m road project fund to ease traffic congestion in England.

The proposed investment is the second tranche of funding from the £190m Local Pinch Point Fund, which was announced in December 2012, adding 62 new schemes and bringing the total number of schemes financed under the fund to 72.

Together with local contributions, the total investment is around £300m.

Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin said that the new projects are designed to target vital bottlenecks across the country, making travelling easier for motorists and businesses.

"Investing in these schemes shows that the government is serious about accelerating growth where it is needed most.

"The proposed investment is the second tranche of funding from the £190m Local Pinch Point Fund, which was announced in December 2012."

"These schemes have the potential to help create more than 100,000 jobs and around 100,000 new homes," McLoughlin said.

Work added to the programme includes upgrades at important roads and bridges, new access routes and improvements to ease congestion at local bottlenecks.

The majority of the schemes will help improve provision for buses, as well as enhance facilities for cycling and walking.

The Local Pinch Point Fund was announced by the government as part of the 2012 autumn statement to reduce traffic congestion on the local highway network.

On 22 March 2013, ten Local Pinch Point schemes received funding.