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== History ==
[[File:New_Jersey_Turnpike_Construction_1951_LOC.jpg|left|thumb|Hackensack Run bridge under construction in 1951]]

=== Precursors and planning ===
{{Infobox road small|state=NJ|type=NJ 1926|county=|route=100|location=[[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]]&ndash;[[Fort Lee, New Jersey|Fort Lee]]|length_mi=|length_round=|length_ref=|formed=1938|deleted=1953}}{{Infobox road small|state=NJ|type=NJ 1926|county=|route=300|location=[[Deepwater, New Jersey|Deepwater]]&ndash;[[New Brunswick, New Jersey|New Brunswick]]|length_mi=|length_round=|length_ref=|formed=1938|deleted=1953}}
Route&nbsp;100 and Route&nbsp;300 were two state highways proposed in the 1930s by the [[New Jersey State Highway Department]] as precursors to the New Jersey Turnpike.

The road that is now the New Jersey Turnpike was first planned by the State Highway Department as two freeways in 1938. Route&nbsp;100 was the route from New Brunswick to the George Washington Bridge, plus a spur to the [[Holland Tunnel]], now the Newark Bay Extension of the Turnpike. Route&nbsp;300 was the southern part of the turnpike from the Delaware Memorial Bridge to New Brunswick. However, the State Highway Department did not have the funds to complete the two freeways, and very little of the road was built under its auspices.<ref name="njdot100">{{cite web|title=Model of Route&nbsp;100|url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/images/str00001/ModelsRt100.jpg|access-date=September 23, 2009|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation}}{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="njdot1002">{{cite web|title=Route&nbsp;100 under construction|url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/darm/links/images/str00001/RoutesRt100undated.jpg|access-date=September 22, 2009|publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation}}{{dead link|date=February 2018|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Instead, in 1948, the NJTA was created to build the road, and the two freeways were built as a single toll road.

[[New Jersey Route S100|Route&nbsp;S100]] was a proposed spur of Route&nbsp;100 in Elizabeth. It was never built, although [[New Jersey Route 81|Route&nbsp;81]] follows a similar alignment.
[[File:America's_Highways_1776–1976_-_page_167.jpg|right|thumb|Construction of the New Jersey Turnpike]]
According to a letter to the editor written by Kathleen Troast Pitney, the daughter of [[Paul L. Troast]], the first chairman of the NJTA:
{{blockquote|Governor Driscoll appointed three men to the turnpike authority in the late 1940s—Maxwell Lester, George Smith and Paul Troast, my father, as chairman. They had no enabling legislation and no funding. They were able to open more than two-thirds of the road in 11 months, completing the whole (project) in less than two years ... When the commissioners broached the subject of landscaping the road ... the governor told them he wanted a road to take the interstate traffic ... off New Jersey's existing roads. Since 85 percent of the traffic at that time was estimated to be from out of state, why spend additional funds on landscaping?<ref>{{cite news |url = http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/index.ssf?/specialprojects/turnpike/tpletters.html |title = Love/hate letters |format = Letter to the Editor |first = Kathleen |last = Troast Pitney |work = [[The Star-Ledger]] |location = Newark, NJ |date = November 2, 2001 |access-date = July 7, 2011 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221308/http://www.nj.com/specialprojects/index.ssf?%2Fspecialprojects%2Fturnpike%2Ftpletters.html |archive-date = March 3, 2016 |df = mdy-all }}</ref>}}
A brochure ''Interesting Facts about the New Jersey Turnpike'', dating from soon after the road's opening, says that when the turnpike's bonds are paid off, "the law provides that the turnpike be turned over to the state for inclusion in the public highway system". Due to new construction, and the expectation that the turnpike pays for policing and maintenance, this has never come to pass.

=== Construction ===
[[File:2021-05-26_11_13_59_View_north_along_Interstate_95_(New_Jersey_Turnpike)_from_the_overpass_for_Union_County_Route_617_(Tremley_Point_Road)_in_Linden,_Union_County,_New_Jersey.jpg|thumb|New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) northbound in Linden]]
The project of building the turnpike had its challenges. One major problem was the construction in the city of Elizabeth, where either 450&nbsp;homes or 32&nbsp;businesses would be destroyed, depending on the chosen route. The engineers decided to go through the residential area, since they considered it the grittiest{{citation needed|date=April 2023}} and the closest route to both Newark Airport and the [[Port Newark–Elizabeth Marine Terminal]] seaport.

When construction finally got to Newark, there was the new challenge of deciding to build either over or under the [[Pulaski Skyway]]. If construction went above the skyway, the costs would be much higher. If they went under, the costs would be lower, but the roadway would be very close to the Passaic River, making it harder for ships to pass through. The turnpike was ultimately built to pass under.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schwab|first=Armand Jr.|date=January 20, 1952|title=City Linked to Super-Highway|page=X17|work=The New York Times|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1FF83858107A93C2AB178AD85F468585F9|url-status=live|url-access=subscription |access-date=September 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121001163201/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20E1FF83858107A93C2AB178AD85F468585F9|archive-date=October 1, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>[[User:No I'm not a troll#Hart|Hart]], pp. 173–174.{{full citation needed|date=August 2018}}</ref> As part of a 2005 [[seismic retrofit]] project, the NJTA lowered its roadway to increase vertical clearance and allow for full-width shoulders, which had been constrained by the location of the skyway supports.<ref>{{cite web|author=[[American Council of Engineering Companies]] of New Jersey|date=March 6, 2006|title=35th Annual Engineering Excellence Awards Dinner program|url=http://www.acecnj.org/Docs/2006%20acec%20award%20program.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304194923/http://www.acecnj.org/Docs/2006%20acec%20award%20program.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2009|access-date=October 27, 2007|publisher=American Council of Engineering Companies of New Jersey}}</ref> Engineers replaced the bearings and lowered the bridge by {{convert|4|ft|m|spell=in}}, without shutting down traffic. The work was carried out by [[Skanska|Koch Skanska]] in 2004, under a $35&nbsp;million contract (equivalent to ${{Inflation|index=US|value=35|start_year=2004}} million in {{Inflation year|index=US}}). The project's engineers were from a joint venture of Dewberry Goodkind Inc. and HNTB Corp. Temporary towers supported the bridge while bearings were removed from the 150&nbsp;piers and the concrete replaced on the pier tops. The lowering process for an {{convert|800|ft|m|adj=on}} section of the bridge was done over 56&nbsp;increments, during five weeks of work.<ref name="ENR_lowering">{{cite news|last=Cho|first=Aileen|date=November 29, 2004|title=Busy New Jersey Span Gets New Bearings, and Shorter Too <!-- |access-date = April 26, 2013 -->|newspaper=Engineering News-Record}}</ref>
[[File:2020-07-12_09_14_56_View_south_along_Interstate_95_(New_Jersey_Turnpike)_at_Exit_8_(New_Jersey_State_Route_33,_New_Jersey_State_Route_133,_Hightstown,_Freehold)_in_East_Windsor_Township,_Mercer_County,_New_Jersey.jpg|left|thumb|New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) southbound at the Route&nbsp;33/Route&nbsp;133 interchange in East Windsor Township]]
While continuing up to the [[New Jersey Meadowlands]], the crossings were harder because of the fertile marsh land of silt and mud. Near the shallow mud, the mud was filled with crushed stone, and the roadway was built above the water table. In the deeper mud, caissons were sunk down to a firm stratum and filled with sand, then both the caissons and the surrounding areas were covered with blankets of sand. Gradually, the water was brought up, and drained into adjacent meadows. Then, construction of the two major bridges over the Passaic and Hackensack Rivers was completed. The bridges were built to give motorists a clear view of the New York City skyline, but with high retaining walls to create the illusion of not being on a river crossing.<ref name="anderson">{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Steve|title=New Jersey Turnpike (I-95)|url=http://www.nycroads.com/roads/nj-turnpike/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110709012754/http://www.nycroads.com/roads/nj-turnpike/|archive-date=July 9, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011|work=Eastern Roads|publisher=Self-published|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The {{convert|6955|ft|m|abbr=on}} Passaic River (Chaplain Washington) Bridge cost $13.7 million to build; the {{convert|5623|ft|m|abbr=on}} Hackensack River Bridge cost $9.5 million.

After the turnpike was built in 1951, the NJTA and the [[New York State Thruway Authority]] (NYSTA) proposed a {{convert|13|mi|km|adj=on}} extension of the New Jersey Turnpike that would run from its end (at US&nbsp;46 in [[Ridgefield Park, New Jersey|Ridgefield Park]] at the time) up to [[West Nyack, New York]], at [[Interstate 87 (New York)|I-87]] ([[New York State Thruway]]). The section through New Jersey was to be constructed and maintained by the NJTA, while the section in New York was to be built and maintained by the NYSTA.

The purpose of this extension was to give motorists a "more direct bypass of the New York City area" to New England, by using the [[Tappan Zee Bridge (1955–2017)|Tappan Zee Bridge]]. The extension was to parallel [[New York State Route 303]] (NY&nbsp;303) and the present-day CSX [[River Subdivision (CSX Transportation)|River Subdivision]], and have limited interchanges. It was to have an interchange with the [[Palisades Interstate Parkway]] and at I-87 (New York State Thruway) in West Nyack. This project did not survive; by 1970, it became too expensive to buy right-of-way access, and community opposition was fierce. Therefore, the NJTA and the NYSTA cancelled the project.<ref name="anderson" />

=== 1950s to 1990s ===
[[File:New_Jersey_Turnpike_Exit_11_Tollbooth_at_night,_1992.jpg|thumb|Approaching the Exit 11 tollbooths at night in 1992, prior to the installation of [[E-ZPass]]]]
[[File:2020-09-24_10_42_17_View_south_along_New_Jersey_State_Route_168_(Black_Horse_Pike)_at_the_exit_for_the_New_Jersey_Turnpike_in_Bellmawr,_Camden_County,_New_Jersey.jpg|thumb|Typical sign at non-freeway entrances to the turnpike; this one is at Exit&nbsp;3. This sign was replaced by a generic entry sign in 2024.]]
The entire 118-mile length of the New Jersey Turnpike took 25 months to construct, at a total cost of $255 million. The first 44-mile-long stretch, from Exit 1 in Carneys Point Township north to Exit 5 in Westampton Township, opened on November 5, 1951. A second 49-mile-long stretch from Exit 5 north to Exit 11 in Woodbridge opened on November 30, 1951, followed by a third 16-mile-long stretch from Exit 11 north to Exit 15E in Newark on December 20, 1951. The fourth and final nine-mile-long stretch, from Exit 15E north to Exit 18 in Ridgefield, opened on January 15, 1952, completing the turnpike.<ref name="anderson" />

With the turnpike completed, traffic began to increase, which prompted the NJTA's first widening project. In 1955, the authority began to widen the turnpike from four lanes to six lanes (three in each direction) between exit&nbsp;4 in Mount Laurel Township and exit&nbsp;10 in Woodbridge Township, and from four lanes to an eight-lane, dual-dual setup (2-2-2-2, two express carriageways and two local carriageways in each direction) between exit&nbsp;10 and exit&nbsp;14 in Newark.

In April 1956 , exit 14 was rebuilt into the 8.2-mile (13.2&nbsp;km)-long Newark Bay Extension; previously it was a standard exit that served US 1-9.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-pike-link-revives-eas/138880454/</ref>  By May 25 of that year, the 6 mile (9.7&nbsp;km) Pearl Harbor Memorial extension, along with mainline exit 6, was opened to traffic.<ref name="Bridge Will Link Turnpikes Today" />

In 1958, a part of the turnpike was designated as Interstate 95.<ref name="nj1927">State of New Jersey, Laws of 1927, Chapter 319.</ref><ref name="Map">{{cite web|last1=Williams|first1=Jimmy|last2=Williams|first2=Sharon|name-list-style=amp|title=1927 New Jersey Road Map|url=http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071031111034/http://www.jimmyandsharonwilliams.com/njroads/1920s/images/1927_routes.gif|archive-date=October 31, 2007 |access-date=October 8, 2008|work=1920s New Jersey Highways}}</ref>

As part of construction on Route 3, the original interchange 17 was permanently closed in 1963.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1964-05-29|title=Holiday Exodus Starts; Traffic Jam on Route 3|pages=1|work=The Herald-News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-holiday-exodus-starts-t/139544910/|access-date=2024-01-25}}</ref>In 1964, a replacement interchange was completed.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1963-06-20|title=Rt. 3 Turnpike Exit to Close|pages=1|work=The Herald-News|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-rt-3-turnpike-exit-to-c/139548253/|access-date=2024-01-25}}</ref>

On February 14, 1966, exit 8A was opened to traffic.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-exit-8a/26228530/</ref>

I-278 was opened near exit 13 in 1969, this resulted in its reconstruction.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 29, 1969|title=S.I.-to-Turnpike Link Is Opening Tomorrow|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C05E1DF103BE73ABC4151DFB6678382679EDE|access-date=September 27, 2017|website=The New York Times|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

On January 14, 1970, a widening project from Edison to  Newark was completed, with truck traffic required on the outer roadway for its entire length (including the already built part) and cars on either.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-new-jersey-home-news-pikes/138895054/</ref>

By June 1970, the Western spur and its interchanges with the mainline were completed. It carries through traffic between the George Washington Bridge and points south, and accommodates traffic bound for the Meadowlands Sports Complex. The original mainline was subsequently renamed the "eastern spur," and signed for the Lincoln Tunnel.<ref>[https://www.njta.com/about/who-we-are#:~:text=It%20has%20grown%20over%20time,%2D95%20Extension%20(1992). https://www.njta.com/about/who-we-are#:~:text=It%20has%20grown%20over%20time,%2D95%20Extension%20(1992).]</ref>

Within Ridgefield Park, the [[Bergen-Passaic Expressway]] was built on the north side of the borough, and left a mile gap to the Turnpike. This gap was closed on October 20, 1971, when the cloverleaf with US 46 was almost entirely eliminated.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 20, 1971|title=Turnpikes Link to I-80 Open Today|pages=44|work=The Jersey Journal|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-jersey-journal-turnpikes-link-to-i-8/138882774/|access-date=January 16, 2024}}</ref>

On June 13, 1972, the turnpikes northern terminus was linked to the Gerge Washington Bridge.<ref>https://www.nytimes.com/1972/06/13/archives/a-bridgeturnpike-link-to-be-opened-in-jersey.html?searchResultPosition=2</ref>

In 1973, work on widening the roadway between exit 9 and exit 10 began. By November 13, the new roadway was opened..<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-herald-news-3-northbound-lanes-open/138895722/</ref> The old one was then closed for a refurbishment, it reopened on January 13.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-sunday-news-turnpike-12-lane-strip-a/138896083/</ref>

{{anchor|New Jersey Turnpike smog accident}}

A series of roadway accidents occurred on the New Jersey Turnpike in the town of [[Kearny, New Jersey|Kearny]], on October 23 and 24, 1973. The first collision occurred at 11:20&nbsp;p.m. EDT on the 23rd. Further accidents continued to occur until 2:45&nbsp;a.m. the next day as cars plowed into the unseen accident ahead of them. Sixty-six vehicles were involved, and nine people died as a result. Thirty-nine suffered non-fatal injuries. The primary cause of the accident was related to a fire consisting of burning garbage, aggravated by foggy conditions.<ref name="SafetyBoard1975">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kLRQAAAAYAAJ|title=Highway accident report : series of multivehicle collisions and fires under limited visibility conditions: New Jersey Turnpike, Gate 15 and U.S. Route 46, Oct. 23 and 24, 1973|publisher=[[National Transportation Safety Board]]|year=1975|quote=The National Transportation Safety Board determines that the probable cause of this series of multivehicle collisions was the penetration of vehicles into areas of severely reduced visibility due to fog and smoke, the latter occasioned by fires adjacent to the turnpike which had not been promptly extinguished. The delay in closing the affected roadways by the New Jersey State Police contributed to the number of accidents.|access-date=April 11, 2011}}</ref> This produced an area of extremely poor visibility.

In the mid-1970s, exit&nbsp;7A was opened to traffic.<ref name="anderson" />

In 1971, the NJTA proposed building the [[Driscoll Expressway|Alfred E. Driscoll Expressway]]. It was to start at the Garden State Parkway south of exit&nbsp;80 in Dover Township (now Toms River) and end at the turnpike approximately {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} north of exit&nbsp;8A in [[South Brunswick, New Jersey|South Brunswick]]. As a proposed part of the turnpike system, its seven interchanges would have included toll plazas except at the northern end of the turnpike. By 1972, the proposed road met fierce opposition from [[Ocean County, New Jersey|Ocean]], [[Monmouth County, New Jersey|Monmouth]], and [[Middlesex County, New Jersey|Middlesex]] counties with quality of life being the main concern. The NJTA proceeded anyway and began selling bonds. But by December 1973, Governor-elect [[Brendan Byrne]] decided to stop the project altogether. Despite this, the authority continued with its plan. It was not until February 1977 that the authority abandoned its plan to build the road.<ref>{{cite news|last=Sullivan|first=Ronald|date=February 20, 1977|title=Turnpike Drops Cross-State Road|page=341|work=The New York Times|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1091EF63C5815768FDDA90A94DA405B878BF1D3|url-status=live|url-access=subscription |access-date=March 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203052239/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1091EF63C5815768FDDA90A94DA405B878BF1D3|archive-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref> The rights-of-way were sold in 1979, shelving the project indefinitely.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bennett|first=Don|date=January 22, 2011|title=Driscoll Expressway ended up the Road to Nowhere|work=Lacey Patch|url=http://lacey.patch.com/articles/driscoll-expressway-ended-up-the-road-to-nowhere|url-status=dead|access-date=November 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425233306/http://lacey.patch.com/articles/driscoll-expressway-ended-up-the-road-to-nowhere|archive-date=April 25, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 1980, the authority opened exit&nbsp;15W.<ref>{{cite map|author1=State Farm Insurance|author-link=State Farm Insurance|title=State Farm Road Atlas|year=1983|author2=Rand McNally|author2-link=Rand McNally|publisher=State Farm Insurance}}{{page needed|date=October 2015}}</ref>

On June 10 1982, exit 13A was opened.<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/courier-post-new-turnpike-interchange-h/148267957/</ref>

On June 23, 1987, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for a project to construct the dual-dual roadway between exit 8A and exit 9, and widening the northern end.<ref>https://dspace.njstatelib.org/bitstreams/85cbb2fc-0c55-4ff1-bc9b-b3ff06b8d0f4/download</ref> This created some problems in the East Brunswick area in the late 1980s during the widening. Analysis of noise (Shadely, 1973){{full citation needed|date=October 2018}} and air quality impacts were made in a lawsuit decided in New Jersey Superior Court. This case, in the early 1970s, was one of the early examples of [[Environmental scientist|environmental scientists]] playing a role in the design of a major highway in the US. The computer models allowed the court to understand the effects of roadway geometry, in this case width, vehicle speeds, proposed [[Noise barrier|noise barriers]], residential setback and pavement types. The outcome was a compromise that involved substantial mitigation of noise pollution and air pollution impacts. The project was ultimately completed on October 23, 1990, with the reopening of  the newly renovated .<ref>https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-record-turnpike-opens-renovated-lane/138896277/</ref> Exit 8A was rebuilt, replacing the t-intersection with a trumpet interchange, and exit  7 had a new intersection constructed that contained a 12 lamed toll plaza 1⁄2 miles away from the original.<ref name="anderson" />

In 1992, the turnpike was extended by four miles (6.4&nbsp;km) to current exit 72B; NJDOT had sold this segment of roadway to balance the state budget.<ref>{{cite news|last=Gray|first=Jerry|date=January 27, 1992|title=Fight Over Florio Budget Plan Heating Up in Hostile Trenton|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/27/nyregion/fight-over-florio-budget-plan-heating-up-in-hostile-trenton.html?scp=2&sq=new%20jersey%20turnpike%201992%20florio&st=cse|access-date=January 29, 2010}}</ref>

In 1996, a HOV lane was constructed between exits&nbsp;11 and exits&nbsp;14. The cost of this widening project was $361 million, more than the cost of the original turnpike. It is reserved for use during peak hours.<ref name="anderson" />

In 1997, improvements were made to a 1.5-mile stretch between exits&nbsp;14 and exits&nbsp;15E in Newark. The project cost $148 million.<ref name="anderson" />

In the late 1990s, a project to improve Exit&nbsp;13A in Elizabeth was started. It was completed in 1999, at the cost of $140 million. It was funded by the developers of  [[Jersey Gardens]], its construction was why the upgrade was carried out.<ref name="nyt-1999-08-29">{{Cite news|last=Holusha|first=John|date=1999-08-29|title=Commercial Property/Jersey Gardens; Outlet Mall Near Newark Airport Prepares to Open|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1999/08/29/realestate/commercial-property-jersey-gardens-outlet-mall-near-newark-airport-prepares-open.html|access-date=2022-11-26|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

=== 2000s to present ===
[[File:NJ_TPK_NB_from_Gordon_Road_overpass.jpeg|right|thumb|New Jersey Turnpike (I-95) northbound in Robbinsville Township]]
On September 30, 2000, NJTA began using [[E-ZPass]] for electronic toll collection. With this, new EZ-Pass only lanes were configured.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2000-10-01|title=E-ZPass Unveiled on New Jersey Turnpike|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/10/01/technology/ezpass-unveiled-on-new-jersey-turnpike.html|access-date=2021-07-09|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>

In January 2004, the authority opened the new 18W toll gates E-ZPass express lanes; witch are available in both directions.<ref name="anderson" />

In July 2004, the Turnpike Authority completed the new exit 1in Carneys Point Township. The new 23-lane toll plaza, which provides four high-speed EZ-Pass lanes (two in each direction), was built approximately 1.2 miles north of the old 15-lane toll plaza, which had not been altered since the turnpike opened in 1951. The plaza features a glass-enclosed overhead walkway for use by toll collectors, and a concrete lighthouse to serve as a "gateway" to the state as well as to the turnpike. First planned during the early 1990's, and begun in early 2001, the $44 million project included the construction of a temporary mainline detour, along with other incidental grading, drainage and pavement work to prepare the site for the new interchange.<ref name="anderson" />

In mid-2005, new EZ-Pass express lanes were opened at exit 18W and exit 18E.<ref name="anderson" />

On December 1,<ref name="anderson" /> 2005, the authority opened exit&nbsp;15X to allow access to the newly built [[Secaucus Junction]] train station.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mansnerus|first=Laura|date=February 5, 2006|title=A Billion-Dollar Bet|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/05njcover.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 22, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330013200/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/nyregion/nyregionspecial2/05njcover.html|archive-date=March 30, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In February 2006, the authority opened a new two lane ramp at exit&nbsp;7A to carry traffic onto the previously extended [[County Route 535 (New Jersey)|County Route&nbsp;535]] (CR&nbsp;535)  in South Brunswick Township. This resulted in the closing of a former exit ramp that allowed traffic onto [[New Jersey Route 32|Route&nbsp;32]] westbound; despite redundancy, the eastbound ramp remained.<ref name="canceled">{{cite news|date=December 2, 2006|title=Route&nbsp;92-turnpike connection project off the table—for now: Official says expansion of turnpike between exits 6 and 9 is the top priority|work=Daily Record|location=Morristown, NJ}}</ref>

In May 2006, hybrid vehicles were permitted to use the HOV lanes during peak periods.<ref name="anderson" />

The authority planned to build [[New Jersey Route 92|Route&nbsp;92]], an east–west spur from [[U.S. Route 1 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;1]] and Ridge Road in the township of South Brunswick to the mainline of the turnpike at exit&nbsp;8A in Monroe Township. This proposition was cancelled on December 1, 2006.<ref name="canceled" />

The authority rebuilt exit&nbsp;16W in the [[East Rutherford, New Jersey|Borough of East Rutherford]]. Several new ramps were built, and old ones were destroyed. One major modification was destroying the old ramp from the tollgate to Route&nbsp;3 west and having a new ramp swing around in the opposite direction and merge with Route&nbsp;3 west, thereby completing the double trumpet-like interchange. This project was completed by March 2010.<ref>{{cite web|last=Tomer|first=Richard L.|date=March 5, 2009|title=Public Notice: NAN-2006-3095-WCA|url=http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/business/buslinks/regulat/pnotices/20063095.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722230456/http://www.nan.usace.army.mil/business/buslinks/regulat/pnotices/20063095.pdf|archive-date=July 22, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011|publisher=US Army Corps of Engineers|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In April  2010, the NJTA finished a project that rebuilt exit&nbsp;12 in the Borough of Carteret in order to reduce truck traffic. A new grade separated interchange was constructed from Roosevelt Avenue east to the toll gate. In addition, the seven-lane toll booth was replaced by a 17-lane one. It was initially planned to be completed in November or December of  2009, though was delayed five to six months behind schedule.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rommel|first=Leo D.|date=May 17, 2009|title=Construction on Turnpike Exit 12 nearly complete|work=MyCentralJersey|publisher=[[Gannett]]|url=http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090517/NEWS/90517002/Construction+on+Turnpike+Exit+12+nearly+complete++Carteret+mayor+fears+congestion|url-status=dead|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719080050/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20090517/NEWS/90517002/Construction+on+Turnpike+Exit+12+nearly+complete++Carteret+mayor+fears+congestion|archive-date=July 19, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The NJTA began accepting E-ZPass on all toll lanes at plazas on March 5, 2011.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/mixedmodenewsreleaseFINAL.pdf |title=E-ZPass soon to be accepted at all lanes on New Jersey Turnpike |date=March 11, 2011 |publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date=July 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628183341/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/mixedmodenewsreleaseFINAL.pdf |archive-date=June 28, 2011 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On April 28, 2011, attempts to privatize toll collection on the New Jersey Turnpike were thwarted as a deal between the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and two unions to reduce toll collector salaries was made instead.<ref>{{cite news|last=Higgs|first=Larry|date=April 28, 2011|title=Toll privatization off the table as unions agree to cut salaries|work=[[Asbury Park Press]]|url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/app/access/2333725351.html?FMT=ABS&date=Apr+28%2C+2011|access-date=May 3, 2011}}</ref>

The Authority reconstructed [[New Jersey Route 495|Route&nbsp;495]] westbound across the turnpike at exit&nbsp;16E in Secaucus. This was finished in mid-2011.<ref>{{cite web|year=2009|title=New Jersey Turnpike Authority Construction Contract Awards|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/buss-cs-awards.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019070024/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/buss-cs-awards.pdf|archive-date=October 19, 2012|access-date=July 7, 2011|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Safety improvements were made at exit&nbsp;2 in [[Woolwich Township, New Jersey|Woolwich Township]], when the NJTA installed a traffic signal at the entrance to the turnpike with [[U.S. Route 322 in New Jersey|US&nbsp;322]], and the intersection was widened with turn lanes on all approaches. Construction was completed in late 2012.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2012/072412w.shtm |title=New traffic signal activated at Route&nbsp;322 intersection with NJ Turnpike Interchange 2 toll plaza in Woolwich |date=July 24, 2012 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation |access-date=October 7, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120831165514/http://www.state.nj.us/transportation/about/press/2012/072412w.shtm |archive-date=August 31, 2012 |df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=McCormick Taylor, Inc.|title=Final Design and Environmental Permitting for Improvements at Interchange 2|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/Tpk-Int-2-Envir-Assessment.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201092837/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/Tpk-Int-2-Envir-Assessment.pdf|archive-date=February 1, 2012|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
{{multiple image
| perrow            = 1
| total_width       = 250
| image1            = New Jersey Turnpike widening Robbinsville.JPG
| image2            = New Jersey Turnpike widening Robbinsville Nov 2014.jpg
| footer            = Widening from 6 to 12 lanes in Robbinsville. Top, July 2012. Bottom, November 2014.
}}
[[File:NJTP_(I_95)_IC_8_options.jpg|thumb|Three proposals for new Exit&nbsp;8 in East Windsor. Alternative 1 was chosen (with a few changes)]]
In November 2004, Governor [[Richard Codey]] advocated a plan to widen the turnpike by extending the dual-dual configuration {{convert|20.1|mi|km}} south from exit&nbsp;8A in Monroe Township to exit&nbsp;6 in Mansfield Township. This was to be completed by 2014 when Pennsylvania was supposed to finish an interchange, that would connect its turnpike to the existing I-95 in [[Bristol Township, Pennsylvania]]. Finances were to be supplied by rerouting money from the planned [[New Jersey Route 92|Route&nbsp;92]] Turnpike extension.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smothers|first=Ronald|date=December 1, 2004|title=New Jersey Set to Expand Turnpike|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/nyregion/01turnpike.html?ex=1152590400&en=f5327028e83ef2f7&ei=5070|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424222417/http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/01/nyregion/01turnpike.html?ex=1152590400&en=f5327028e83ef2f7&ei=5070|archive-date=April 24, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On January 1, 2007, the NJTA released its plan for exit&nbsp;8 in East Windsor Township. The old interchange, located west of the turnpike, was demolished and replaced with a new one located to the east of the turnpike. The new interchange configuration opened in January 2013, featuring a new toll plaza consisting of 10&nbsp;lanes, with direct access to [[New Jersey Route 133|Route&nbsp;133]] (Hightstown Bypass) without going through any traffic lights, as well as to Route&nbsp;33 by using a grade-separated interchange.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mease|first=Alyssa|title=Part of New NJ Turnpike toll plaza opens at Interchange 8 in East Windsor|work=The Times of Trenton|url=http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/01/part_of_new_nj_turnpike_toll_p.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126074351/http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/01/part_of_new_nj_turnpike_toll_p.html|archive-date=January 26, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Construction of a realigned Milford Road, near the interchange, was open to traffic in October 2011.<ref>{{cite web|title=Construction Updates: NJ Turnpike Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Program|url=http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/construction_updates.php|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120227103633/http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/construction_updates.php|archive-date=February 27, 2012|access-date=March 31, 2012|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Milford Road was converted into an overpass crossing over the new interchange&nbsp;8 ramp. The junction with the realigned Milford Road, Route&nbsp;33 and Monmouth Street was also modified.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Persico|first1=Joyce J.|last2=Kitchenman|first2=Andrew|date=January 1, 2007|title=Pike plan raises concern|work=The Trenton Times|url=http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?/base/news-2/116762800881490.xml&coll=5|url-status=dead|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070103052016/http://www.nj.com/news/times/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fnews-2%2F116762800881490.xml&coll=5|archive-date=January 3, 2007|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

As part of this project, the NJTA expanded the turnpike by changing the dual-dual configuration (from 2-3-3-2 to 3-3-3-3) between exit&nbsp;9 in East Brunswick Township and exit&nbsp;8A in Monroe Township. Minimal construction was needed since overpasses were already built with future expansion in mind. Only final preparation and paving of an outer lane in the outer roadways were required to accommodate the extra lane. New signage and lighting were installed as part of the widening project. It was thought that some transmission towers that ran near the turnpike would have to be reconfigured to make room for the newly constructed roadways. However, this idea was dismissed because it would have been cost prohibitive, and the towers, in fact, did not need to be relocated.<ref>{{cite web|title=Executive Order No. 215 Environmental Impact Statement|url=http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/documents/03e_Chapter3_pp344-464.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090824082730/http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/documents/03e_Chapter3_pp344-464.pdf|archive-date=August 24, 2009|access-date=January 16, 2012|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The widened turnpike features six lanes in each direction (3-3-3-3), double the previous capacity.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-news-Widening-PIC.pdf |title=Turnpike authority to hold public information centers regarding widening project |date=November 20, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090327022600/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-news-Widening-PIC.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2009 |publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority |access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/NEWS_RELEASE_Gov_Christie_Commissioner_Fox_cut_ribbon_Turnpike_Widening.pdf |title=Gov. Christie, NJDOT Commissioner FoxPraise $2.3 Billion NJ Turnpike Infrastructure Investment Project |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141103174930/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/NEWS_RELEASE_Gov_Christie_Commissioner_Fox_cut_ribbon_Turnpike_Widening.pdf |archive-date=November 3, 2014 |publisher=[[New Jersey Turnpike Authority]] |access-date=November 3, 2014 |quote=The Widening Program created a three-lane Outer Roadway in each direction over the 25 miles between Interchange 6 in Mansfield Township, Burlington County, and Interchange 8A in Monroe Township, Middlesex County.}}</ref> The following interchanges were upgraded with this widening project: exit&nbsp;6 (Mansfield), exit&nbsp;7 ([[Bordentown Township, New Jersey|Bordentown Township]]), exit&nbsp;7A ([[Robbinsville Township, New Jersey|Robbinsville]]), exit&nbsp;8 ([[East Windsor Township, New Jersey|East Windsor]]), and exit&nbsp;8A (Monroe).<ref>{{cite news|last=Giambusso|first=David|date=July 2, 2009|title=$2.7B N.J. Turnpike widening project begins|work=The Star-Ledger|location=Newark, NJ|url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/27b_nj_turnpike_widening_proje.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 31, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816132206/http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2009/07/27b_nj_turnpike_widening_proje.html|archive-date=August 16, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+Project outline
!Exit
!Interchange/Toll Gate Location
!Mile
!Ramp
Modifications
!Expansion to toll gate
!Notes
!Start of Construction
|-
|6
|Mansfield Township
|50.9
|Build two-lane high-speed ramps to/from inner and outer roadways
|No
|Southern end of "dual–dual" setup
|late 2009
|-
|7
|Bordentown Township
|53.7
|Build single lane ramps to/from inner and outer roadways
|No
|
|mid-2009
|-
|{{nowrap|''6N & 6S''}}
|Hamilton Township
|57.8
|Build single lane inner and outer roadway exit/entrance ramps
|—
|''Woodrow Wilson Service Area'' (6N) & ''Richard Stockton Service Area'' (6S)
|late 2009
|-
|7A
|Robbinsville Township
|60.5
|Build new ramps to inner and outer roadways
|Yes—add three more lanes to gate
|Two-lane ramps to be built to enter northbound lanes and exit southbound lanes and single lane ramps to enter southbound lanes and exit northbound lanes
|mid-2009
|-
|8
|East Windsor Township
|67.6
|Build new interchange with single lane ramps to/from inner and outer roadways, and ramp to maintenance shed
|Yes—new 12-lane toll gate
|New exit&nbsp;8 was constructed east of the Turnpike, connecting directly to the [[New Jersey Route 133|Hightstown Bypass]] and [[New Jersey Route 33|Route&nbsp;33]]
|mid-2009
|-
|''7S''
|Cranbury Township
|71.5
|Build single-lane southbound ramps to/from inner & outer roadways
|—
|''Molly Pitcher Service Area'' on the southbound side
|early 2010
|-
|8A
|South Brunswick/Monroe Township
|73.9
|Build single-lane entrance ramp to southbound inner car lanes
|No
|
|early 2010
|}
On July 2, 2009, a ceremonial groundbreaking took place near exit&nbsp;8 to initiate the widening of the turnpike.<ref>{{cite news|last=Duffy|first=Erin|date=July 2, 2009|title=$2.7 billion Turnpike Widening Under Way|work=[[The Trenton Times]]|url=http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2009/07/27_billion_turnpike_widening_u.html|url-status=live|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605140242/http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2009/07/27_billion_turnpike_widening_u.html|archive-date=June 5, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On January 28, 2014, the last two of the project's 31 construction contracts was awarded.<ref>{{cite web|date=January 29, 2014|title=Proceedings of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/2014_01-28-BM-Minutes-001-thru-027.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129021030/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/2014_01-28-BM-Minutes-001-thru-027.pdf|archive-date=November 29, 2014|access-date=November 15, 2014|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref> On May 17–18, 2014, the NJTA switched traffic from the inner roadway for the new outer roadway to do repairs and resurfacing of the inner roadway.<ref>{{cite web|title=Timeline Photos|url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=623175911092039&set=a.429579320451700.95976.400244906718475&type=1|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180502195151/https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=623175911092039&set=a.429579320451700.95976.400244906718475&type=1|archive-date=May 2, 2018|access-date=October 4, 2014|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|via=Facebook|df=mdy-all}}</ref> A total of six northbound lanes between exits&nbsp;6 and 9 opened on October 26, 2014, while the southbound lanes opened a week later on November 3, 2014. The final cost reported to be $2.3 billion.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schaefer|first=Mari A.|date=October 27, 2014|title=Expanded lanes open on New Jersey Turnpike|work=The Philadelphia Inquirer|url=http://articles.philly.com/2014-10-27/news/55487850_1_southbound-lanes-truck-lane-delays|url-status=dead|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304082704/http://articles.philly.com/2014-10-27/news/55487850_1_southbound-lanes-truck-lane-delays|archive-date=March 4, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Higgs|first=Larry|date=November 3, 2014|title=New southbound Turnpike lanes open|work=The Star-Ledger|location=Newark, New Jersey|url=http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2014/11/new_southbound_lanes_turnpike_lanes_opened_monday.html|url-status=live|access-date=November 3, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106154756/http://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2014/11/new_southbound_lanes_turnpike_lanes_opened_monday.html|archive-date=November 6, 2014|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The project employed 1,000 workers a day, and at one point was the largest active road construction project in the Western Hemisphere.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interchange 6 to 9 Widening Program Website|url=http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070708214405/http://www.njturnpikewidening.com/|archive-date=July 8, 2007|access-date=January 16, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

On March 31, 2014, the NJTA began a new lane control system on the eastbound lanes of the Newark Bay–Hudson County Extension, using the shoulder as a travel lane between exit&nbsp;14 to 14C.<ref>{{cite web|year=2014|title=Shoulder Open as a Travel Lane on the NJ Turnpike Newark Bay–Hudson County Extension Eastbound Between Interchange 14 to 14C|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/ADVISORY_Man_Lane_System_operation.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140516045730/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/ADVISORY_Man_Lane_System_operation.pdf|archive-date=May 16, 2014|access-date=March 29, 2014|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref> This system was discontinued on May 20, 2019, as part of a bridge redecking project.<ref>{{cite web|last=Journal|first=Jersey|date=May 4, 2019|title=Farewell, extra Extension lane, we hardly knew ye {{!}} Jersey Journal editorial|url=https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/05/farewell-extra-extension-lane-we-hardly-knew-ye-jersey-journal-editorial.html|access-date=May 17, 2019|website=nj.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
[[File:New_Jersey_Turnpike_Reduce_Speed_sign.jpg|left|thumb|An older [[variable-message sign]] displaying a warning. These signs have since been replaced.]]
[[File:2013-12-28_15_01_10_New_variable_message_sign_on_northbound_Interstate_95_(New_Jersey_Turnpike)_just_north_of_Exit_7A_(Interstate_195,_Trenton,_Shore_Points)_in_Robbinsville_Township,_Mercer_County,_New_Jersey.jpg|thumb|A modern variable message sign displaying a warning about congestion ahead]]
All of the turnpike's original [[Variable-message sign|variable-message signs]] (VMS) were replaced and made more common by 2015. The replacement signs, which feature full graphic color matrix technology, are more up-to-date and feature travel times to major routes when not otherwise in use.<ref name="VMS">{{cite web|title=New Jersey Turnpike and Garden State Parkway to get new VMS|url=http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=19932|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401082943/http://www.traffictechnologytoday.com/news.php?NewsID=19932|archive-date=April 1, 2012|access-date=October 16, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In late October 2015, the southbound inner roadway exit ramp at exit&nbsp;7A was closed to make repairs to the overpass crossing over the truck lanes. Steel plates beneath the deck of the exit ramp overpass "were not built to specification" when it was originally constructed. The ramp was reopened in late November 2015.<ref>{{cite press release |title=NJTA to Close Exit from Southbound Turnpike Car Lanes to Interchange 7A for Bridge Repairs |publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority |date=October 15, 2015 |url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/NEWS_RELEASE_Interchange_7A_FINAL.pdf |access-date=October 24, 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106030814/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/NEWS_RELEASE_Interchange_7A_FINAL.pdf |archive-date=November 6, 2015 |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

To reduce congestion, the NJTA has widened [[New Jersey Route 18|Route&nbsp;18]] and reconstructed all the associated ramps at exit&nbsp;9 (except the ramp to Route&nbsp;18 north,  though that still had more minor alterations) in East Brunswick Township. Construction began in late 2012 and was completed in mid-2016.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Higgs|first1=Larry|date=October 15, 2015|title=What project is backing up Route&nbsp;18? Ask @CommutingLarry|url=https://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/10/what_project_is_backing_up_route_18_ask_commutingl.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180721044630/https://www.nj.com/traffic/index.ssf/2015/10/what_project_is_backing_up_route_18_ask_commutingl.html|archive-date=July 21, 2018|access-date=July 21, 2018|publisher=NJ.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Saccenti|first=John|date=March 18, 2011|title=Turnpike Authority to Widen Route&nbsp;18 at Exit&nbsp;9|work=East Brunswick Patch|url=http://eastbrunswick.patch.com/articles/turnpike-authority-to-widen-route-18-at-exit-9#c|url-status=dead|access-date=July 7, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602071024/http://eastbrunswick.patch.com/articles/turnpike-authority-to-widen-route-18-at-exit-9#c|archive-date=June 2, 2011|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Interchange 9 Improvement Project|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/INT9-Public-Hearing.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120201101345/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/INT9-Public-Hearing.pdf|archive-date=February 1, 2012|access-date=January 15, 2012|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Loyer|first=Susan|date=February 24, 2014|title=Two road projects to address traffic woes on Route&nbsp;18 in East Brunswick|url=http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140223/NJNEWS10/302230026/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141015071745/http://www.mycentraljersey.com/article/20140223/NJNEWS10/302230026/|archive-date=October 15, 2014|access-date=October 9, 2014|publisher=MyCentralJersey.com|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The authority planned to improve exit&nbsp;14A in Jersey City and connecting roads in Bayonne because the current interchange was in "poor condition" and suffered from chronic congestion. This was part of a bigger project that addresses future congestion along [[New Jersey Route 440|Route&nbsp;440]]. Official groundbreaking occurred on March 11, 2015, with an expanded toll plaza and connector bridge targeted for completion in late 2018 with a $310 million budget.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gannett Fleming, Inc.|date=November 2012|title=Preliminary Engineering & Environmental Studies For Improvements at Interchange 14A: Public Hearing Report|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/public_hearing_report-12.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130916053034/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/documents/public_hearing_report-12.pdf|archive-date=September 16, 2013|access-date=March 12, 2015|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Lin|first=Jonathan|date=March 11, 2015|title=Hudson County pols, Turnpike Authority break ground on Exit 14A project|newspaper=The Jersey Journal|url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/03/hudson_county_pols_turnpike_authority_break_ground.html|url-status=live|access-date=March 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315020944/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2015/03/hudson_county_pols_turnpike_authority_break_ground.html|archive-date=March 15, 2015|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The newly expanded exit&nbsp;14A reopened in May 2018 ahead of its anticipated opening later in the year.<ref>{{cite news|date=May 21, 2018|title=14A toll plaza in Bayonne reopens after $286M makeover|newspaper=The Jersey Journal|url=http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/05/new_traffic_ramps_to_open_at_bayonne_turnpike_entr.html|url-status=dead|access-date=May 30, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528004155/http://www.nj.com/hudson/index.ssf/2018/05/new_traffic_ramps_to_open_at_bayonne_turnpike_entr.html|archive-date=May 28, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

Signage for I-95 was extended from  [[Interstate 195 (New Jersey)|I-195]] in [[Robbinsville Township]] to exit 6 in September 2018, the Pearl harbor Memorial Extension was also signed.<ref name="new295">{{cite press release |first=Steve |last=Schapiro |url=http://news.transportation.org/Pages/StateDotNewsDetail.aspx?MessageId=55519 |title=I-95 to be redesignated as I-295 in Mercer County starting in 2018 |date=December 21, 2017 |access-date=December 21, 2017 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Transportation |archive-url=  https://web.archive.org/web/20171222104909/http://news.transportation.org/Pages/StateDotNewsDetail.aspx?MessageId=55519 |archive-date=  December 22, 2017}}</ref>

On March&nbsp;24, 2020, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority suspended cash toll collection due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Drivers without E-ZPass transponders had their license plates photographed at the toll plazas and were sent bills in the mail. Cash collection resumed on May&nbsp;19 of that year.<ref name="abc7ny1">{{cite news|date=May 16, 2020|title=Coronavirus News: Cash Tolls Returning to NJ Turnpike and Garden State Parkway|agency=WABC|url=https://www.abc7ny.com/amp/coronavirus-nj-reopen-new-jersey-update-news/6188286|url-status=dead|access-date=December 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114215356/https://abc7ny.com/amp/coronavirus-nj-reopen-new-jersey-update-news/6188286/|archive-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

NJTA announced in january 2020 that it would build E-ZPass express lanes at exit&nbsp;18E;<ref name="Higgs 2020">{{cite web|last=Higgs|first=Larry|date=January 28, 2020|title=One of the Turnpike's busiest toll plazas is getting express lanes|url=https://www.nj.com/traffic/2020/01/one-of-the-turnpikes-busiest-toll-plazas-is-getting-express-lanes.html|access-date=November 26, 2022|website=nj}}</ref> the lanes opened by November 2021.<ref name="Twitter2021">{{cite tweet|number=1462756312148762625|user=njturnpike|title=The new express E-ZPass lanes at Interchange 18E are open to traffic|author=New Jersey Turnpike|date=November 21, 2021|access-date=November 26, 2022}}</ref>

On June&nbsp;9, 2023, the [[American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials]] approved designating the Eastern Spur of the New Jersey Turnpike as I-695.<ref name="aashto1992a">{{AASHTO minutes|year=2023S|access-date=October 22, 2023}}</ref>

=== Future ===
Due to traffic congestion outside exit&nbsp;8A, the NJTA plans to improve Route&nbsp;32 from its intersection at US&nbsp;130 in South Brunswick to the exit&nbsp;8A tollgate in Monroe Township. Named the "Interchange&nbsp;8A to Route&nbsp;130 Connection", plans and dates have yet to be determined.<ref>{{cite web|author=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|date=January 8, 2009|title=Local CMAQ Mobility Initiatives|url=http://www.njtpa.org/Project/Mobility/CMAQ/documents/LocalCMAQMobilityInitiatives.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927173338/http://www.njtpa.org/Project/Mobility/CMAQ/documents/LocalCMAQMobilityInitiatives.pdf|archive-date=September 27, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2011|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The authority is planning a {{convert|1.1|mi|km|adj=on}} roadway and bridge, called the "Tremley Point Road Connector", from Industrial Highway in the Borough of Carteret to Tremley Point Road in the [[Linden, New Jersey|City of Linden]]. The purpose of this project is to increase truck access to the Tremley Point industrial area in Linden while moving trucks off local streets in residential neighborhoods. The authority chose this access road rather than a full interchange with Tremley Point Road from the turnpike mainline because of its proximity to both exits&nbsp;12 and 13.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-tremley-point.htm|title=Tremley Point Connector Road Project Environmental Assessment|author=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|date=January 24, 2009|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|chapter=1.0 Summary of the Project (TPRC)|access-date=July 7, 2011|chapter-url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-tremley-point-Section-1.0_Summary-of-the-Project.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195732/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-tremley-point.htm|archive-date=January 14, 2009}}</ref> The estimated completion date of the connector has yet to be determined,<ref>{{cite web|author=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|date=January 24, 2009|title=Tremley Point Connector Road Project|url=http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-tremley-point.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114195732/http://www.state.nj.us/turnpike/nj-tremley-point.htm|archive-date=January 14, 2009|access-date=July 7, 2011|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority}}</ref> but as of October 2019, a construction contract has been awarded.<ref>{{cite web|date=October 22, 2019|title=AGENDA Board Meeting|url=https://www.njta.com/media/4858/final-agenda-bm-october-2019.pdf|publisher=New Jersey Turnpike Authority|page=5}}</ref>

The NJTA plans to add an additional lane in each direction between exits 1 and 4. Construction is planned to begin in 2025 and be completed in 2032.<ref>{{cite web|date=|title=Capital Projects|url=https://www.njta.com/capitalprojects|access-date=2022-08-21|publisher=NJTA}}</ref>