The New Jersey Turnpike Authority has just approved toll hikes for the Turnpike and Garden State Parkway for the third straight year.

The increase will be 3% - a fact that is leaving many drivers frustrated and wondering why it is happening again.

“Every time they raise our prices, it’s harder to make ends meet,” says Joy Jicha, of Howell.

The Turnpike Authority says the increase is due to traffic continuing to recover closer to pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels and “inflation levels not seen in 40 years which impact discretionary travel on the roads, purchases of operating and capital project goods and services, and borrowing costs."

But despite the increase in tolls, drivers say they have not noticed any improvements on the highways.

"I mean the roads aren’t the greatest and you know what, what is the toll money really going to?” asks Mark Norton, of Barnegat.

The toll increase is part of a $7 billion rolling five-year capital spending program through 2027. The Turnpike Authority says nearly 70% of the toll increase will go toward bridge repair and reconstruction, capacity enhancements and pavement resurfacing. The rest will go toward other roadway improvement projects, technology improvements and fleet replacement and facility upgrade projects.

Many drivers say that while they are frustrated, there are not many ways to avoid the toll roads.

“I mean, I have no choice…What are you gonna do?” says Marlena Peeples, of Bayonne.

The tolls will increase on Jan. 1, 2023.