NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain, left, and Alliance for Action President Jerry Keenan lead a question and answer session after her prepared remarks.
EDISON, NJ (June 11, 2026) – The New Jersey Department of Transportation Commissioner today announced plans for a new transportation improvement project designed to improve safety and reduce congestion near one of Central Jersey’s busiest interchanges.
Speaking before Alliance for Action members and guests at the Alliance’s “Inside Scoop with NJ Department of Transportation Commissioner Priya Jain” event, Jain announced that NJDOT will soon post a solicitation for a consultant to perform preliminary engineering work on a Route 295 corridor improvement project in Mercer County.
Commissioner Jain opened her remarks with the following, “The Alliance for Action has long understood something that is increasingly important in today’s environment: meaningful progress requires partnership.”
The project extends along Route 295 from Sloan Avenue (CR 649) to Princeton Pike (CR 583) and is being prepared for delivery through the design-build process. According to NJDOT, the project’s primary goals are to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion near and within the I-295/Route 1 northbound interchange.
The announcement came during Commissioner Jain’s first appearance before the Alliance for Action since becoming commissioner.
Jain provided attendees with an overview of NJDOT priorities, transportation investments and upcoming opportunities across the state, while sharing insights into the department’s efforts to strengthen New Jersey’s transportation network and modernize critical infrastructure. She detailed how new processes and coordination are speeding up completion of major projects.
Industry leaders, contractors, engineers, consultants and public officials attended the event.
Additional highlights from Commissioner Jain’s presentation included:
- A progress report on the Direct Connection Program for the interchange of I-295, Route 42, and I-76 in Camden and Gloucester Counties. With new coordination efforts, the work will be completed 16 months ahead of the original plan.
- The Route 1&9 Truck New Road Program, as part of the Portway Program. That program will strengthen the state’s role in logistics and all modes of transportation of goods, through ports, on rail and over roads. Progress on this project is now 13 months ahead of schedule due to better coordination between the NJDOT and private and public sector partners. The Ports of Newark and Elizabeth are expected to have double the current 2026 cargo levels in 2050.
The Alliance for Action regularly convenes leaders from government, business, labor and the development community to provide members with direct access to decision makers and timely information about infrastructure and economic development opportunities across New Jersey.
To learn more about upcoming opportunities with the Alliance, visit the our events calendar.
The Alliance thanks the sponsors of today’s event: Artheon; Carbro Constructors; George Harms Construction Company; GPI; IEW Construction Group; Jois Construction Management; LiRo-Hill; PSEG; Stellar Services; STV; Terracon; and Van Cleef Engineering.
