New Jersey Roadwork Underway [AUDIO/VIDEO]

New Jersey drivers have had the pleasure of living in the state with the third-lowest gas tax in the nation. However, drivers have been paying in other ways, like car repairs.

A town hall guest in Springfield Thursday complained to Governor Chris Christie about the poor condition of New Jersey’s roads. Christie responded by refreshing the crowd on his transportation capital plan from early last year, aimed at improving the state’s roads and bridges over a period of five years.

The plan allocated $1.6 billion a year from tolls, taxes and borrowing.

“In addition, that money will be matched by the federal government, 1.6 billion. So we’ll be spending 3.2 billion dollars a year,” Christie explained.

In the end, Christie said 16 billion would be spent over the five years.

He explained that projects are not only underway to maintain roads, but to improve them as well. He noted the Turnpike and Parkways widening projects.

“So for those of you who are headed down to the shore this summer, there will be some traffic relief,” said Christie.

Toll money from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey is being used as well, for projects on New Jersey roads and bridges that feed into New York.

Christie said the Pulaski Skyway will finally get some work done; he said “it’s been ignored for quite some time.”

At the close of his response, Christie said all the work is being done without raising the gas tax, as proposed by Democrats in the state legislature.