The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Madera County Transportation Commission have broken ground on a new $84m interchange project on State Route 99.

Scheduled to be completed by the winter of 2016, the programme was granted $50m from Proposition 1B, a 2006 transportation bond approved by voters.

In total, $15.5bn in Proposition 1B funds has been distributed across the state.

The latest project, which will reduce traffic congestion in Madera County, will involve building a new interchange at Avenue 12 to better accommodate its 70,000 daily travellers.

It also includes the construction of a new southbound SR-99 on-ramp, improvement of traffic signals along Avenue 12, and revamp of Golden State Boulevard and local roads (North and South Road 29) in order to improve the traffic flow.

"The programme was granted $50m from Proposition 1B, a 2006 transportation bond approved by voters."

Caltrans director Malcolm Dougherty said: "Not only will this project benefit motorists for years to come; it will also provide jobs for the Central Valley."

California State Route 99 (SR 99) is a north-south state highway stretching almost the entire length of the Central Valley.

In May 2013, the state announced the allocation of $878m to 114 transportation projects in order to support job growth, ease traffic congestion, and repair aging roads and bridges in the state.

Of the total funds allocated, $476m will come from Proposition 1B.

At the time, Dougherty said: "This investment in our transportation system creates jobs and improves the quality of life for all Californians."