diff --git a/e2e/angular-core/src/module-federation.test.ts b/e2e/angular-core/src/module-federation.test.ts
index b6e1c4621f..5f7b668844 100644
--- a/e2e/angular-core/src/module-federation.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/angular-core/src/module-federation.test.ts
@@ -4,12 +4,13 @@ import {
   cleanupProject,
   killProcessAndPorts,
   newProject,
-  readProjectConfig,
+  readJson,
   runCLI,
   runCommandUntil,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Angular Module Federation', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -183,10 +184,10 @@ describe('Angular Module Federation', () => {
 
     // ports
     const hostPort = 4500;
-    const remote1Port = (await readProjectConfig(remote1)).targets.serve.options
-      .port;
-    const remote2Port = (await readProjectConfig(remote2)).targets.serve.options
-      .port;
+    const remote1Port = readJson(join(remote1, 'project.json')).targets.serve
+      .options.port;
+    const remote2Port = readJson(join(remote2, 'project.json')).targets.serve
+      .options.port;
 
     const process = await runCommandUntil(
       `serve-ssr ${host} --port=${hostPort}`,
diff --git a/e2e/angular-core/src/projects.test.ts b/e2e/angular-core/src/projects.test.ts
index b366b016c3..4c56d41380 100644
--- a/e2e/angular-core/src/projects.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/angular-core/src/projects.test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
-import { normalize } from 'path';
+import { join, normalize } from 'path';
 
 describe('Angular Projects', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -269,8 +269,8 @@ describe('Angular Projects', () => {
       `
     );
 
-    // update the angular.json
-    await updateProjectConfig(app1, (config) => {
+    // update the project.json
+    updateJson(join(app1, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.executor = '@nx/angular:webpack-browser';
       config.targets.build.options = {
         ...config.targets.build.options,
@@ -278,7 +278,7 @@ describe('Angular Projects', () => {
       };
       return config;
     });
-    await updateProjectConfig(esbuildApp, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join(esbuildApp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.executor = '@nx/angular:browser-esbuild';
       config.targets.build.options = {
         ...config.targets.build.options,
diff --git a/e2e/angular-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts b/e2e/angular-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
index 62a82584de..179dd210c3 100644
--- a/e2e/angular-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/angular-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import {
   runE2ETests,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   removeFile,
   checkFilesExist,
+  updateJson,
 } from '../../utils';
 import { names } from '@nx/devkit';
 import { join } from 'path';
@@ -283,7 +283,7 @@ async function useWorkspaceAssetsInApp(appName: string) {
   }
   `
   );
-  await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+  updateJson(join(appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
     config.targets['build'].options.stylePreprocessorOptions = {
       includePaths: ['assets/styles'],
     };
diff --git a/e2e/angular-extensions/src/tailwind.test.ts b/e2e/angular-extensions/src/tailwind.test.ts
index b6613da95c..de275e8c33 100644
--- a/e2e/angular-extensions/src/tailwind.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/angular-extensions/src/tailwind.test.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ import {
   runCLI,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Tailwind support', () => {
   let project: string;
@@ -358,7 +359,7 @@ describe('Tailwind support', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/angular:app ${appWithTailwind} --add-tailwind --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided --no-interactive`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(appWithTailwind, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join(appWithTailwind, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.build.executor = '@nx/angular:webpack-browser';
         config.targets.build.options = {
           ...config.targets.build.options,
diff --git a/e2e/esbuild/src/esbuild.test.ts b/e2e/esbuild/src/esbuild.test.ts
index f994963b8a..c25e9302a5 100644
--- a/e2e/esbuild/src/esbuild.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/esbuild/src/esbuild.test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
   waitUntil,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('EsBuild Plugin', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -29,7 +30,7 @@ describe('EsBuild Plugin', () => {
     const myPkg = uniq('my-pkg');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${myPkg} --bundler=esbuild`);
     updateFile(`libs/${myPkg}/src/index.ts`, `console.log('Hello');\n`);
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.assets = [`libs/${myPkg}/assets/*`];
       return json;
     });
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ describe('EsBuild Plugin', () => {
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${myPkg} --bundler=esbuild`);
     updateFile(`libs/${myPkg}/src/index.ts`, `console.log('main');\n`);
     updateFile(`libs/${myPkg}/src/extra.ts`, `console.log('extra');\n`);
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.additionalEntryPoints = [
         `libs/${myPkg}/src/extra.ts`,
       ];
@@ -216,7 +217,7 @@ describe('EsBuild Plugin', () => {
       `libs/${myPkg}/esbuild.config.js`,
       `console.log('custom config loaded');\nmodule.exports = {};\n`
     );
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       delete json.targets.build.options.esbuildOptions;
       json.targets.build.options.esbuildConfig = `libs/${myPkg}/esbuild.config.js`;
       return json;
diff --git a/e2e/expo/src/expo.test.ts b/e2e/expo/src/expo.test.ts
index 0824db1123..b552d95d58 100644
--- a/e2e/expo/src/expo.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/expo/src/expo.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import {
   newProject,
   promisifiedTreeKill,
   readJson,
-  readResolvedConfiguration,
   runCLI,
   runCLIAsync,
   runCommand,
@@ -85,8 +84,7 @@ describe('expo', () => {
   it('should prebuild', async () => {
     // run prebuild command with git check disable
     // set a mock package name for ios and android in expo's app.json
-    const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-    const root = projects[appName].root;
+    const root = `apps/${appName}`;
     const appJsonPath = join(root, `app.json`);
     const appJson = await readJson(appJsonPath);
     if (appJson.expo.ios) {
diff --git a/e2e/js/src/js-executor-node.test.ts b/e2e/js/src/js-executor-node.test.ts
index 5011bebef0..a301ff748a 100644
--- a/e2e/js/src/js-executor-node.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/js/src/js-executor-node.test.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ import {
   setMaxWorkers,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('js:node executor', () => {
   let scope: string;
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
         `;
     });
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(esbuildLib, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', esbuildLib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['run-node'] = {
         executor: '@nx/js:node',
         options: {
@@ -62,7 +63,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
         `;
     });
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(rollupLib, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', rollupLib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['run-node'] = {
         executor: '@nx/js:node',
         options: {
@@ -88,7 +89,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
         `;
     });
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(tscLib, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', tscLib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['run-node'] = {
         executor: '@nx/js:node',
         options: {
@@ -114,7 +115,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
         `;
     });
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(swcLib, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', swcLib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['run-node'] = {
         executor: '@nx/js:node',
         options: {
@@ -135,7 +136,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:application ${webpackProject} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', webpackProject, 'project.json'));
 
     updateFile(`apps/${webpackProject}/src/main.ts`, () => {
       return `
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ describe('js:node executor', () => {
         `;
     });
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(webpackProject, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', webpackProject, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['run-node'] = {
         executor: '@nx/js:node',
         options: {
diff --git a/e2e/js/src/js-packaging.test.ts b/e2e/js/src/js-packaging.test.ts
index 2081337724..73768826c2 100644
--- a/e2e/js/src/js-packaging.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/js/src/js-packaging.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,5 @@
 import {
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   cleanupProject,
   newProject,
   runCLI,
@@ -161,7 +160,7 @@ describe('packaging libs', () => {
     );
 
     // Add additional entry points for `exports` field
-    await updateProjectConfig(tscLib, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', tscLib, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.additionalEntryPoints = [
         `libs/${tscLib}/src/foo/*.ts`,
       ];
@@ -169,7 +168,7 @@ describe('packaging libs', () => {
     });
     updateFile(`libs/${tscLib}/src/foo/bar.ts`, `export const bar = 'bar';`);
     updateFile(`libs/${tscLib}/src/foo/faz.ts`, `export const faz = 'faz';`);
-    await updateProjectConfig(swcLib, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', swcLib, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.additionalEntryPoints = [
         `libs/${swcLib}/src/foo/*.ts`,
       ];
diff --git a/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts b/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
index 121472cb23..54f81dd716 100644
--- a/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/linter/src/linter.test.ts
@@ -728,7 +728,7 @@ describe('Linter', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/node:app ${myapp} --rootProject=true --no-interactive`
       );
-      await setMaxWorkers();
+      setMaxWorkers('project.json');
       verifySuccessfulStandaloneSetup(myapp);
 
       let appEslint = readJson('.eslintrc.json');
diff --git a/e2e/next-core/src/next-structure.test.ts b/e2e/next-core/src/next-structure.test.ts
index 25ae302a77..1b5c34f3b7 100644
--- a/e2e/next-core/src/next-structure.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/next-core/src/next-structure.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { removeSync, mkdirSync } from 'fs-extra';
+import { mkdirSync, removeSync } from 'fs-extra';
 import { capitalize } from '@nx/devkit/src/utils/string-utils';
 import { checkApp } from './utils';
 import {
@@ -13,8 +13,9 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Next.js Apps Libs', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ describe('Next.js Apps Libs', () => {
 
     // Additional assets that should be copied to dist
     const sharedLib = uniq('sharedLib');
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('packages', appName, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.assets = [
         {
           glob: '**/*',
diff --git a/e2e/next-core/src/next-webpack.test.ts b/e2e/next-core/src/next-webpack.test.ts
index b1c956d64e..cc69d36acc 100644
--- a/e2e/next-core/src/next-webpack.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/next-core/src/next-webpack.test.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ import {
   runCLI,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Next.js Webpack', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -80,7 +81,7 @@ describe('Next.js Webpack', () => {
     checkFilesExist(`dist/apps/${appName}/next.config.js`);
 
     // Make sure withNx works with run-commands.
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build = {
         command: 'npx next build',
         outputs: [`apps/${appName}/.next`],
diff --git a/e2e/node/src/node-esbuild.test.ts b/e2e/node/src/node-esbuild.test.ts
index cf095bb08d..e98d7e71df 100644
--- a/e2e/node/src/node-esbuild.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/node/src/node-esbuild.test.ts
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import {
   updateFile,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { execSync } from 'child_process';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Node Applications + esbuild', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ describe('Node Applications + esbuild', () => {
     const app = uniq('nodeapp');
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${app} --bundler=esbuild --no-interactive`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', app, 'project.json'));
 
     checkFilesDoNotExist(`apps/${app}/webpack.config.js`);
 
diff --git a/e2e/node/src/node-server.test.ts b/e2e/node/src/node-server.test.ts
index ec9df54dd9..c23a0b56ba 100644
--- a/e2e/node/src/node-server.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/node/src/node-server.test.ts
@@ -9,10 +9,11 @@ import {
   runCLI,
   runCommandUntil,
   uniq,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   updateFile,
   setMaxWorkers,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -73,14 +74,17 @@ describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${expressApp} --framework=express --no-interactive`
     );
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', expressApp, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${fastifyApp} --framework=fastify --no-interactive`
     );
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', fastifyApp, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${koaApp} --framework=koa --no-interactive`);
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', koaApp, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${nestApp} --framework=nest --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nestApp, 'project.json'));
 
     // Use esbuild by default
     checkFilesDoNotExist(`apps/${expressApp}/webpack.config.js`);
@@ -140,7 +144,7 @@ describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app  ${expressApp} --framework=express --docker --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', expressApp, 'project.json'));
 
     checkFilesExist(`apps/${expressApp}/Dockerfile`);
   }, 300_000);
@@ -151,11 +155,12 @@ describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${nodeApp1} --framework=none --no-interactive`
     );
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeApp1, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${nodeApp2} --framework=none --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
-    await updateProjectConfig(nodeApp1, (config) => {
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeApp2, 'project.json'));
+    updateJson(join('apps', nodeApp1, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.serve.options.waitUntilTargets = [`${nodeApp2}:build`];
       return config;
     });
diff --git a/e2e/node/src/node-webpack.test.ts b/e2e/node/src/node-webpack.test.ts
index f4cdb1b279..e05fb46cc8 100644
--- a/e2e/node/src/node-webpack.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/node/src/node-webpack.test.ts
@@ -10,10 +10,11 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   setMaxWorkers,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { execSync } from 'child_process';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -24,7 +25,7 @@ describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
     const app = uniq('nodeapp');
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${app} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', app, 'project.json'));
 
     checkFilesExist(`apps/${app}/webpack.config.js`);
 
@@ -57,7 +58,7 @@ describe('Node Applications + webpack', () => {
     const lib = uniq('nodelib');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${lib} --bundler=esbuild --no-interactive`);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(app, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', app, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       // Since we read from lib from dist, we should re-build it when lib changes.
       config.targets.build.options.buildLibsFromSource = false;
       config.targets.serve.options.runBuildTargetDependencies = true;
diff --git a/e2e/node/src/node.test.ts b/e2e/node/src/node.test.ts
index d9dd301e8d..fa21c9304a 100644
--- a/e2e/node/src/node.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/node/src/node.test.ts
@@ -22,13 +22,13 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   setMaxWorkers,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { exec, execSync } from 'child_process';
 import * as http from 'http';
 import { getLockFileName } from '@nx/js';
 import { satisfies } from 'semver';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 function getData(port, path = '/api'): Promise<any> {
   return new Promise((resolve) => {
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     const nodeapp = uniq('nodeapp');
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${nodeapp} --linter=eslint`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${nodeapp}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
@@ -76,9 +76,9 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
   it('should be able to generate the correct outputFileName in options', async () => {
     const nodeapp = uniq('nodeapp');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${nodeapp} --linter=eslint`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(nodeapp, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.outputFileName = 'index.js';
       return config;
     });
@@ -93,12 +93,12 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${nodeapp} --linter=eslint --bundler=webpack`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${nodeapp}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(nodeapp, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.additionalEntryPoints = [
         {
           entryName: 'additional-main',
@@ -153,7 +153,7 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/node:app ${nodeapp} --linter=eslint --bundler=webpack --framework=none`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
 
     updateFile('.env', `NX_FOOBAR="test foo bar"`);
 
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     process.env.PORT = `${port}`;
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/express:app ${nodeapp} --linter=eslint`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${nodeapp}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
 
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     const nestapp = uniq('nestapp');
     const port = 3335;
     runCLI(`generate @nx/nest:app ${nestapp} --linter=eslint`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nestapp, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${nestapp}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
@@ -292,13 +292,13 @@ describe('Node Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nrwl/node:app ${esmapp} --linter=eslint --framework=none --bundler=webpack`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', esmapp, 'project.json'));
     updateJson(`apps/${esmapp}/tsconfig.app.json`, (config) => {
       config.module = 'esnext';
       config.target = 'es2020';
       return config;
     });
-    await updateProjectConfig(esmapp, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', esmapp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.outputFileName = 'main.mjs';
       config.targets.build.options.assets = [];
       return config;
@@ -340,7 +340,7 @@ describe('Build Node apps', () => {
     const packageManager = detectPackageManager(tmpProjPath());
     const nestapp = uniq('nestapp');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/nest:app ${nestapp} --linter=eslint`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nestapp, 'project.json'));
 
     await runCLIAsync(`build ${nestapp} --generatePackageJson`);
 
@@ -402,7 +402,7 @@ describe('Build Node apps', () => {
 
     const nodeapp = uniq('nodeapp');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${nodeapp} --bundler=webpack`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nodeapp, 'project.json'));
 
     const jslib = uniq('jslib');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${jslib} --bundler=tsc`);
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ ${jslib}();
     const appName = uniq('app');
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/node:app ${appName} --no-interactive`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     // deleteOutputPath should default to true
     createFile(`dist/apps/${appName}/_should_remove.txt`);
@@ -526,11 +526,11 @@ ${jslib}();
       newProject();
       const nestapp = uniq('nestapp');
       runCLI(`generate @nx/nest:app ${nestapp} --linter=eslint`);
-      await setMaxWorkers();
+      setMaxWorkers(join('apps', nestapp, 'project.json'));
 
       packageInstall('@nestjs/swagger', undefined, '^6.0.0');
 
-      await updateProjectConfig(nestapp, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('apps', nestapp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.build.options.tsPlugins = ['@nestjs/swagger/plugin'];
         return config;
       });
@@ -643,7 +643,7 @@ describe('nest libraries', function () {
 
     packageInstall('@nestjs/swagger', undefined, '~6.3.0');
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(nestlib, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', nestlib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.transformers = [
         {
           name: '@nestjs/swagger/plugin',
diff --git a/e2e/nx-misc/src/extras.test.ts b/e2e/nx-misc/src/extras.test.ts
index 5949da6178..c036e3a5eb 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-misc/src/extras.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-misc/src/extras.test.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ import {
   setMaxWorkers,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
   beforeAll(() => newProject());
@@ -19,9 +20,9 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
     it('should stream output', async () => {
       const myapp = 'abcdefghijklmon';
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp}`);
-      await setMaxWorkers();
+      setMaxWorkers(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'));
 
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (c) => {
+      updateJson(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'), (c) => {
         c.targets['inner'] = {
           command: 'echo inner',
         };
@@ -125,7 +126,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
         process.platform === 'win32'
           ? `%SHARED_VAR% %ROOT_ONLY% %NESTED_ONLY%` // Windows
           : `$SHARED_VAR $ROOT_ONLY $NESTED_ONLY`;
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.echoEnvVariables.options.command += ` ${command}`;
         return config;
       });
@@ -138,7 +139,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
     }, 120000);
 
     it('should pass options', async () => {
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.echo = {
           command: 'echo --var1={args.var1}',
           options: {
@@ -154,7 +155,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
 
     it('should interpolate provided arguments', async () => {
       const echoTarget = uniq('echo');
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets[echoTarget] = {
           executor: 'nx:run-commands',
           options: {
@@ -189,7 +190,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
     }, 120000);
 
     it('should fail when a process exits non-zero', async () => {
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.error = {
           executor: 'nx:run-commands',
           options: {
@@ -210,7 +211,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
     });
 
     it('run command should not break if output property is missing in options and arguments', async () => {
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.lint.outputs = ['{options.outputFile}'];
         return config;
       });
@@ -244,7 +245,7 @@ describe('Extra Nx Misc Tests', () => {
           : `mkdir -p ${folder}`,
         `echo dummy > ${folder}/dummy.txt`,
       ];
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         delete config.targets.build.options.command;
         config.targets.build.options = {
           ...config.targets.build.options,
diff --git a/e2e/nx-misc/src/misc.test.ts b/e2e/nx-misc/src/misc.test.ts
index 4b1762b2fa..7c7da03043 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-misc/src/misc.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-misc/src/misc.test.ts
@@ -23,10 +23,10 @@ import { renameSync, writeFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { ensureDirSync } from 'fs-extra';
 import * as path from 'path';
 import { major } from 'semver';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Nx Commands', () => {
-  let proj: string;
-  beforeAll(() => (proj = newProject()));
+  beforeAll(() => newProject());
 
   afterAll(() => cleanupProject());
 
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ describe('Nx Commands', () => {
 
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${app1} --tags e2etag`);
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${app2}`);
-      await setMaxWorkers();
+      setMaxWorkers(join('apps', app1, 'project.json'));
 
       const s = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
 
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@ describe('Nx Commands', () => {
 
     beforeAll(async () => {
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp}`);
+      setMaxWorkers(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'));
       runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${mylib}`);
-      await setMaxWorkers();
     });
 
     beforeEach(() => {
diff --git a/e2e/nx-misc/src/workspace.test.ts b/e2e/nx-misc/src/workspace.test.ts
index 7c28ee110f..1e33185b2a 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-misc/src/workspace.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-misc/src/workspace.test.ts
@@ -8,14 +8,12 @@ import {
   updateFile,
   readFile,
   exists,
-  updateProjectConfig,
-  readProjectConfig,
   tmpProjPath,
-  readResolvedConfiguration,
   getPackageManagerCommand,
   getSelectedPackageManager,
   runCommand,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 let proj: string;
 
@@ -119,9 +117,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/js:lib ${lib3} --unitTestRunner=jest --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib3, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join(lib3, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -178,13 +177,13 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       expect(moveOutput).toContain(`CREATE ${rootClassPath}`);
       checkFilesExist(rootClassPath);
 
-      let projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}-data-access`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const newConfig = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      let projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(`${lib1}-data-access`);
+      const newConfig = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(newConfig).toMatchObject({
         tags: [],
       });
-      const lib3Config = await readProjectConfig(lib3);
+      const lib3Config = readJson(join(lib3, 'project.json'));
       expect(lib3Config.implicitDependencies).toEqual([
         `shared-${lib1}-data-access`,
       ]);
@@ -200,9 +199,9 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
         ]
       ).toEqual([`shared/${lib1}/data-access/src/index.ts`]);
 
-      projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}-data-access`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const project = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(`${lib1}-data-access`);
+      const project = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(project).toBeTruthy();
       expect(project.sourceRoot).toBe(`${newPath}/src`);
       expect(project.targets.lint.options.lintFilePatterns).toEqual([
@@ -261,9 +260,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/js:lib ${lib3} --unitTestRunner=jest --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib3, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join(lib3, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -331,13 +331,13 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
         ]
       ).toEqual([`shared/${lib1}/data-access/src/index.ts`]);
 
-      const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}-data-access`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const project = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      const projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(`${lib1}-data-access`);
+      const project = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(project).toBeTruthy();
       expect(project.sourceRoot).toBe(`${newPath}/src`);
       expect(project.tags).toEqual([]);
-      const lib3Config = await readProjectConfig(lib3);
+      const lib3Config = readJson(join(lib3, 'project.json'));
       expect(lib3Config.implicitDependencies).toEqual([newName]);
 
       expect(project.targets.lint.options.lintFilePatterns).toEqual([
@@ -400,9 +400,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/js:lib ${lib3} --unitTestRunner=jest --project-name-and-root-format=derived`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib3, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join('packages', lib3, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -470,9 +471,9 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
         ]
       ).toEqual([`packages/shared/${lib1}/data-access/src/index.ts`]);
 
-      const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}-data-access`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const project = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      const projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(`${lib1}-data-access`);
+      const project = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(project).toBeTruthy();
       expect(project.sourceRoot).toBe(`${newPath}/src`);
       expect(project.targets.lint.options.lintFilePatterns).toEqual([
@@ -532,9 +533,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/js:lib ${lib3} --unitTestRunner=jest --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib3, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [lib1];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join(lib3, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [lib1];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -587,13 +589,13 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       expect(moveOutput).toContain(`CREATE ${rootClassPath}`);
       checkFilesExist(rootClassPath);
 
-      let projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[lib1]).toBeUndefined();
-      const newConfig = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      let projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(lib1);
+      const newConfig = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(newConfig).toMatchObject({
         tags: [],
       });
-      const lib3Config = await readProjectConfig(lib3);
+      const lib3Config = readJson(join(lib3, 'project.json'));
       expect(lib3Config.implicitDependencies).toEqual([`${lib1}-data-access`]);
 
       expect(moveOutput).toContain('UPDATE tsconfig.base.json');
@@ -605,9 +607,9 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
         rootTsConfig.compilerOptions.paths[`@${proj}/${lib1}-data-access`]
       ).toEqual([`${lib1}/data-access/src/index.ts`]);
 
-      projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[lib1]).toBeUndefined();
-      const project = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(lib1);
+      const project = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(project).toBeTruthy();
       expect(project.sourceRoot).toBe(`${newPath}/src`);
       expect(project.targets.lint.options.lintFilePatterns).toEqual([
@@ -676,9 +678,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/js:lib ${lib3} --unitTestRunner=jest --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided`
       );
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib3, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join(lib3, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [`${lib1}-data-access`];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -707,11 +710,11 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       expect(moveOutput).toContain(`CREATE ${rootClassPath}`);
       checkFilesExist(rootClassPath);
 
-      const newConfig = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      const newConfig = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(newConfig).toMatchObject({
         tags: [],
       });
-      const lib3Config = await readProjectConfig(lib3);
+      const lib3Config = readJson(join(lib3, 'project.json'));
       expect(lib3Config.implicitDependencies).toEqual([
         `shared-${lib1}-data-access`,
       ]);
@@ -725,9 +728,9 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
         rootTsConfig.compilerOptions.paths[`shared-${lib1}-data-access`]
       ).toEqual([`shared/${lib1}/data-access/src/index.ts`]);
 
-      const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}-data-access`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const project = await readProjectConfig(newName);
+      const projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(`${lib1}-data-access`);
+      const project = readJson(join(newPath, 'project.json'));
       expect(project).toBeTruthy();
       expect(project.sourceRoot).toBe(`${newPath}/src`);
       expect(project.targets.lint.options.lintFilePatterns).toEqual([
@@ -762,9 +765,10 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
        */
 
       runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${lib2} --unitTestRunner=jest`);
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib2, (config) => {
-        config.implicitDependencies = [lib1];
-        return config;
+      updateFile(join('libs', lib2, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [lib1];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
       });
 
       /**
@@ -796,9 +800,9 @@ describe('Workspace Tests', () => {
       expect(exists(tmpProjPath(`libs/${lib1}`))).toBeFalsy();
 
       expect(removeOutputForced).not.toContain(`UPDATE nx.json`);
-      const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-      expect(projects[`${lib1}`]).toBeUndefined();
-      const lib2Config = await readProjectConfig(lib2);
+      const projects = runCLI('show projects').split('\n');
+      expect(projects).not.toContain(lib1);
+      const lib2Config = readJson(join('libs', lib2, 'project.json'));
       expect(lib2Config.implicitDependencies).toEqual([]);
 
       expect(projects[`${lib1}`]).toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/e2e/nx-run/src/affected-graph.test.ts b/e2e/nx-run/src/affected-graph.test.ts
index 4a6e1b1cf4..61965c17c4 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-run/src/affected-graph.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-run/src/affected-graph.test.ts
@@ -11,13 +11,12 @@ import {
   runCommand,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
   checkFilesExist,
   isWindows,
   fileExists,
   removeFile,
-  readResolvedConfiguration,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Nx Affected and Graph Tests', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -218,10 +217,11 @@ describe('Nx Affected and Graph Tests', () => {
       // TODO: investigate why affected gives different results on windows
       if (isNotWindows()) {
         generateAll();
-        await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (config) => ({
-          ...config,
-          tags: ['tag'],
-        }));
+        updateFile(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+          const data = JSON.parse(content);
+          data.tags = ['tag'];
+          return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
+        });
         const output = runCLI('print-affected --select projects');
         expect(output).toContain(myapp);
         expect(output).not.toContain(myapp2);
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ describe('Nx Affected and Graph Tests', () => {
 
     it('should affect all projects by removing projects', async () => {
       generateAll();
-      const root = (await readResolvedConfiguration())[mylib].root;
+      const root = `libs/${mylib}`;
       removeFile(root);
       const output = runCLI('print-affected --select projects');
       expect(output).toContain(myapp);
@@ -241,10 +241,11 @@ describe('Nx Affected and Graph Tests', () => {
 
     it('should detect changes to implicitly dependant projects', async () => {
       generateAll();
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (config) => ({
-        ...config,
-        implicitDependencies: ['*', `!${myapp2}`],
-      }));
+      updateFile(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = ['*', `!${myapp2}`];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
+      });
 
       runCommand('git commit -m "setup test"');
       updateFile(`libs/${mylib}/index.html`, '<html></html>');
@@ -256,10 +257,12 @@ describe('Nx Affected and Graph Tests', () => {
       expect(output).toContain(mylib);
 
       // Clear implicit deps to not interfere with other tests.
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (config) => ({
-        ...config,
-        implicitDependencies: [],
-      }));
+
+      updateFile(join('apps', myapp, 'project.json'), (content) => {
+        const data = JSON.parse(content);
+        data.implicitDependencies = [];
+        return JSON.stringify(data, null, 2);
+      });
     });
 
     it('should handle file renames', () => {
diff --git a/e2e/nx-run/src/cache.test.ts b/e2e/nx-run/src/cache.test.ts
index d1ae7642d6..a6ffa7186a 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-run/src/cache.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-run/src/cache.test.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('cache', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -23,8 +23,9 @@ describe('cache', () => {
     const myapp1 = uniq('myapp1');
     const myapp2 = uniq('myapp2');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp1}`);
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', myapp1, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp2}`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', myapp2, 'project.json'));
 
     // run build with caching
     // --------------------------------------------
@@ -153,7 +154,7 @@ describe('cache', () => {
   it('should support using globs as outputs', async () => {
     const mylib = uniq('mylib');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:library ${mylib}`);
-    await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (c) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (c) => {
       c.targets.build = {
         executor: 'nx:run-commands',
         outputs: ['{workspaceRoot}/dist/!(.next)/**/!(z|x).(txt|md)'],
diff --git a/e2e/nx-run/src/invoke-runner.test.ts b/e2e/nx-run/src/invoke-runner.test.ts
index 9d53d15e73..4f6f27073c 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-run/src/invoke-runner.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-run/src/invoke-runner.test.ts
@@ -5,8 +5,9 @@ import {
   runCommand,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Invoke Runner', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ describe('Invoke Runner', () => {
   it('should invoke runner imperatively ', async () => {
     const mylib = uniq('mylib');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${mylib}`);
-    await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (c) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', mylib, 'project.json'), (c) => {
       c.targets['prebuild'] = {
         command: 'echo prebuild',
       };
diff --git a/e2e/nx-run/src/run.test.ts b/e2e/nx-run/src/run.test.ts
index d6a5a7f668..7e2af05d58 100644
--- a/e2e/nx-run/src/run.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/nx-run/src/run.test.ts
@@ -4,9 +4,7 @@ import {
   fileExists,
   isWindows,
   newProject,
-  readFile,
   readJson,
-  readProjectConfig,
   removeFile,
   runCLI,
   runCLIAsync,
@@ -16,10 +14,10 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { PackageJson } from 'nx/src/utils/package-json';
 import * as path from 'path';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -29,9 +27,9 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
   describe('running targets', () => {
     describe('(forwarding params)', () => {
       let proj = uniq('proj');
-      beforeAll(async () => {
+      beforeAll(() => {
         runCLI(`generate @nx/js:lib ${proj}`);
-        await updateProjectConfig(proj, (c) => {
+        updateJson(`libs/${proj}/project.json`, (c) => {
           c.targets['echo'] = {
             command: 'echo ECHO:',
           };
@@ -55,10 +53,10 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
       });
     });
 
-    it('should execute long running tasks', async () => {
+    it('should execute long running tasks', () => {
       const myapp = uniq('myapp');
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp}`);
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (c) => {
+      updateJson(`apps/${myapp}/project.json`, (c) => {
         c.targets['counter'] = {
           executor: '@nx/workspace:counter',
           options: {
@@ -80,8 +78,8 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
       runCLI(`generate @nx/node:lib ${mylib}`);
 
       // Used to restore targets to lib after test
-      const original = await readProjectConfig(mylib);
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (j) => {
+      const original = readJson(`libs/${mylib}/project.json`);
+      updateJson(`libs/${mylib}/project.json`, (j) => {
         delete j.targets;
         return j;
       });
@@ -114,7 +112,7 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
         `Cannot find configuration for task ${mylib}:echo:fail`
       );
 
-      await updateProjectConfig(mylib, (c) => original);
+      updateJson(`libs/${mylib}/project.json`, (c) => original);
     }, 1000000);
 
     describe('tokens support', () => {
@@ -123,11 +121,11 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
       beforeAll(async () => {
         app = uniq('myapp');
         runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${app}`);
-        await setMaxWorkers();
+        setMaxWorkers(join('apps', app, 'project.json'));
       });
 
       it('should support using {projectRoot} in options blocks in project.json', async () => {
-        await updateProjectConfig(app, (c) => {
+        updateJson(`apps/${app}/project.json`, (c) => {
           c.targets['echo'] = {
             command: `node -e 'console.log("{projectRoot}")'`,
           };
@@ -138,8 +136,8 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
         expect(output).toContain(`apps/${app}`);
       });
 
-      it('should support using {projectName} in options blocks in project.json', async () => {
-        await updateProjectConfig(app, (c) => {
+      it('should support using {projectName} in options blocks in project.json', () => {
+        updateJson(`apps/${app}/project.json`, (c) => {
           c.targets['echo'] = {
             command: `node -e 'console.log("{projectName}")'`,
           };
@@ -159,7 +157,7 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
           };
           return json;
         });
-        await updateProjectConfig(app, (c) => {
+        updateJson(`apps/${app}/project.json`, (c) => {
           c.targets['echo'] = {};
           return c;
         });
@@ -167,7 +165,7 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
         expect(output).toContain(`apps/${app}`);
       });
 
-      it('should support using {projectName} in targetDefaults', async () => {
+      it('should support using {projectName} in targetDefaults', () => {
         updateJson(`nx.json`, (json) => {
           json.targetDefaults = {
             echo: {
@@ -176,7 +174,7 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
           };
           return json;
         });
-        await updateProjectConfig(app, (c) => {
+        updateJson(`apps/${app}/project.json`, (c) => {
           c.targets['echo'] = {};
           return c;
         });
@@ -192,13 +190,13 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
       const myapp2 = uniq('b');
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp1}`);
       runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${myapp2}`);
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp1, (c) => {
+      updateJson(`apps/${myapp1}/project.json`, (c) => {
         c.targets['error'] = {
           command: 'echo boom1 && exit 1',
         };
         return c;
       });
-      await updateProjectConfig(myapp2, (c) => {
+      updateJson(`apps/${myapp2}/project.json`, (c) => {
         c.targets['error'] = {
           executor: 'nx:run-commands',
           options: {
@@ -431,8 +429,8 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
       });
 
       it('should be able to include deps using dependsOn', async () => {
-        const originalWorkspace = await readProjectConfig(myapp);
-        await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (config) => {
+        const originalWorkspace = readJson(`apps/${myapp}/project.json`);
+        updateJson(`apps/${myapp}/project.json`, (config) => {
           config.targets.prep = {
             executor: 'nx:run-commands',
             options: {
@@ -452,12 +450,12 @@ describe('Nx Running Tests', () => {
         expect(output).toContain(mylib2);
         expect(output).toContain('PREP');
 
-        await updateProjectConfig(myapp, () => originalWorkspace);
+        updateJson(`apps/${myapp}/project.json`, () => originalWorkspace);
       }, 10000);
 
       it('should be able to include deps using target defaults defined at the root', async () => {
         const nxJson = readJson('nx.json');
-        await updateProjectConfig(myapp, (config) => {
+        updateJson(`apps/${myapp}/project.json`, (config) => {
           config.targets.prep = {
             command: 'echo PREP > one.txt',
           };
diff --git a/e2e/plugin/src/nx-plugin.test.ts b/e2e/plugin/src/nx-plugin.test.ts
index a725656cf8..97e3e653af 100644
--- a/e2e/plugin/src/nx-plugin.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/plugin/src/nx-plugin.test.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import {
   getPackageManagerCommand,
   newProject,
   readJson,
-  readProjectConfig,
   runCLI,
   runCLIAsync,
   runCommand,
@@ -18,6 +17,7 @@ import {
 import type { PackageJson } from 'nx/src/utils/package-json';
 
 import { ASYNC_GENERATOR_EXECUTOR_CONTENTS } from './nx-plugin.fixtures';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Nx Plugin', () => {
   let npmScope: string;
@@ -387,19 +387,23 @@ describe('Nx Plugin', () => {
         `generate @nx/plugin:plugin ${plugin} --linter=eslint --directory subdir --e2eTestRunner=jest`
       );
       checkFilesExist(`libs/subdir/${plugin}/package.json`);
-      const pluginProject = await readProjectConfig(`subdir-${plugin}`);
-      const pluginE2EProject = await readProjectConfig(`subdir-${plugin}-e2e`);
+      const pluginProject = readJson(
+        join('libs', 'subdir', plugin, 'project.json')
+      );
+      const pluginE2EProject = readJson(
+        join('apps', 'subdir', `${plugin}-e2e`, 'project.json')
+      );
       expect(pluginProject.targets).toBeDefined();
       expect(pluginE2EProject).toBeTruthy();
     }, 90000);
   });
   describe('--tags', () => {
-    it('should add tags to project configuration', async () => {
+    it('should add tags to project configuration', () => {
       const plugin = uniq('plugin');
       runCLI(
         `generate @nx/plugin:plugin ${plugin} --linter=eslint --tags=e2etag,e2ePackage `
       );
-      const pluginProject = await readProjectConfig(plugin);
+      const pluginProject = readJson(join('libs', plugin, 'project.json'));
       expect(pluginProject.tags).toEqual(['e2etag', 'e2ePackage']);
     }, 90000);
   });
diff --git a/e2e/react-core/src/react-module-federation.test.ts b/e2e/react-core/src/react-module-federation.test.ts
index 2030c256fc..f03f99fa2c 100644
--- a/e2e/react-core/src/react-module-federation.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/react-core/src/react-module-federation.test.ts
@@ -3,12 +3,13 @@ import {
   checkFilesExist,
   cleanupProject,
   newProject,
-  readProjectConfig,
+  readJson,
   runCLI,
   runCLIAsync,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('React Module Federation', () => {
   let proj: string;
@@ -43,10 +44,10 @@ describe('React Module Federation', () => {
       combinedOutput: expect.stringContaining('Test Suites: 1 passed, 1 total'),
     });
 
-    expect(await readPort(shell)).toEqual(4200);
-    expect(await readPort(remote1)).toEqual(4201);
-    expect(await readPort(remote2)).toEqual(4202);
-    expect(await readPort(remote3)).toEqual(4203);
+    expect(readPort(shell)).toEqual(4200);
+    expect(readPort(remote1)).toEqual(4201);
+    expect(readPort(remote2)).toEqual(4202);
+    expect(readPort(remote3)).toEqual(4203);
 
     updateFile(
       `apps/${shell}/webpack.config.js`,
@@ -61,10 +62,10 @@ describe('React Module Federation', () => {
           ...baseConfig,
               remotes: [
                 '${remote1}',
-                ['${remote2}', 'http://localhost:${await readPort(
+                ['${remote2}', 'http://localhost:${readPort(
         remote2
       )}/remoteEntry.js'],
-                ['${remote3}', 'http://localhost:${await readPort(remote3)}'],
+                ['${remote3}', 'http://localhost:${readPort(remote3)}'],
               ],
         };
 
@@ -108,10 +109,10 @@ describe('React Module Federation', () => {
     //   expect(e2eResults).toContain('All specs passed!');
     //   expect(
     //     await killPorts([
-    //       await readPort(shell),
-    //       await readPort(remote1),
-    //       await readPort(remote2),
-    //       await readPort(remote3),
+    //       readPort(shell),
+    //       readPort(remote1),
+    //       readPort(remote2),
+    //       readPort(remote3),
     //     ])
     //   ).toBeTruthy();
     // }
@@ -138,8 +139,8 @@ describe('React Module Federation', () => {
     expect(buildOutput).toContain('Successfully ran target build');
   }, 500_000);
 
-  async function readPort(appName: string): Promise<number> {
-    const config = await readProjectConfig(appName);
+  function readPort(appName: string): number {
+    const config = readJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
     return config.targets.serve.options.port;
   }
 });
diff --git a/e2e/react-core/src/react-package.test.ts b/e2e/react-core/src/react-package.test.ts
index c30d5a6788..768c8ce6cf 100644
--- a/e2e/react-core/src/react-package.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/react-core/src/react-package.test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { names } from '@nx/devkit';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Build React libraries and apps', () => {
   /**
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ describe('Build React libraries and apps', () => {
     );
 
     // Add assets to child lib
-    await updateProjectConfig(childLib, (json) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', childLib, 'project.json'), (json) => {
       json.targets.build.options.assets = [`libs/${childLib}/src/assets`];
       return json;
     });
diff --git a/e2e/react-core/src/react.test.ts b/e2e/react-core/src/react.test.ts
index cb1fbba78b..b4374a2eea 100644
--- a/e2e/react-core/src/react.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/react-core/src/react.test.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,6 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { readFileSync } from 'fs-extra';
 import { join } from 'path';
@@ -289,7 +288,7 @@ describe('React Applications', () => {
       );
 
       // make sure stylePreprocessorOptions works
-      await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         config.targets.build.options.stylePreprocessorOptions = {
           includePaths: ['libs/shared/lib'],
         };
diff --git a/e2e/react-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts b/e2e/react-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
index a5f61a859f..6824fbdd1d 100644
--- a/e2e/react-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/react-extensions/src/cypress-component-tests.test.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ import {
   uniq,
   updateFile,
   updateJson,
-  updateProjectConfig,
 } from '../../utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('React Cypress Component Tests', () => {
   let projectName;
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ export default Input;
 `
     );
     createFile('libs/assets/data.json', JSON.stringify({ data: 'data' }));
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['build'].options.assets.push({
         glob: '**/*',
         input: 'libs/assets',
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ ${content}`;
         );
       `
     );
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets[
         'build'
       ].options.webpackConfig = `apps/${appName}/webpack.config.js`;
diff --git a/e2e/rollup/src/rollup.test.ts b/e2e/rollup/src/rollup.test.ts
index f27c1c0cfd..237fcbfaf2 100644
--- a/e2e/rollup/src/rollup.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/rollup/src/rollup.test.ts
@@ -8,8 +8,9 @@ import {
   runCommand,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Rollup Plugin', () => {
   beforeAll(() => newProject());
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ describe('Rollup Plugin', () => {
     let output = runCommand(`node dist/libs/${myPkg}/index.cjs.js`);
     expect(output).toMatch(/Hello/);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       delete config.targets.build;
       return config;
     });
@@ -52,7 +53,7 @@ describe('Rollup Plugin', () => {
     output = runCommand(`node dist/libs/${myPkg}/index.cjs.js`);
     expect(output).toMatch(/Hello/);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       delete config.targets.build;
       return config;
     });
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ describe('Rollup Plugin', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/rollup:configuration ${myPkg} --target=node --tsConfig=libs/${myPkg}/tsconfig.lib.json --main=libs/${myPkg}/src/index.ts --compiler=tsc`
     );
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.format = ['cjs', 'esm'];
       config.targets.build.options.generateExportsField = true;
       config.targets.build.options.additionalEntryPoints = [
diff --git a/e2e/storybook/src/storybook.test.ts b/e2e/storybook/src/storybook.test.ts
index e5bba8f764..a35d6fd8b3 100644
--- a/e2e/storybook/src/storybook.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/storybook/src/storybook.test.ts
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { writeFileSync } from 'fs';
 import { createFileSync } from 'fs-extra';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Storybook generators and executors for monorepos', () => {
   const reactStorybookApp = uniq('react-app');
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ describe('Storybook generators and executors for monorepos', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/react:app ${reactStorybookApp} --bundler=webpack --project-name-and-root-format=as-provided --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join(reactStorybookApp, 'project.json'));
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/react:storybook-configuration ${reactStorybookApp} --generateStories --no-interactive --bundler=webpack`
     );
diff --git a/e2e/utils/command-utils.ts b/e2e/utils/command-utils.ts
index 603c0ac662..9f0144e3f8 100644
--- a/e2e/utils/command-utils.ts
+++ b/e2e/utils/command-utils.ts
@@ -14,11 +14,9 @@ import { TargetConfiguration } from '@nx/devkit';
 import { ChildProcess, exec, execSync, ExecSyncOptions } from 'child_process';
 import { join } from 'path';
 import * as isCI from 'is-ci';
-import { fileExists, readJson, updateFile } from './file-utils';
+import { fileExists, readJson, updateJson } from './file-utils';
 import { logError, stripConsoleColors } from './log-utils';
 import { existsSync } from 'fs-extra';
-import { retrieveProjectConfigurations } from '../../packages/nx/src/project-graph/utils/retrieve-workspace-files';
-import { readNxJson } from '../../packages/nx/src/config/nx-json';
 
 export interface RunCmdOpts {
   silenceError?: boolean;
@@ -35,15 +33,9 @@ export interface RunCmdOpts {
  *
  * maxWorkers required for: node, web, jest
  */
-export async function setMaxWorkers() {
+export function setMaxWorkers(projectJsonPath: string) {
   if (isCI) {
-    const root = tmpProjPath();
-    const projects: Record<string, ProjectConfiguration> = (
-      await retrieveProjectConfigurations(root, readNxJson(root))
-    ).projectNodes;
-
-    Object.keys(projects).forEach((appName) => {
-      let project = projects[appName];
+    updateJson<ProjectConfiguration>(projectJsonPath, (project) => {
       const { build } = project.targets as {
         [targetName: string]: TargetConfiguration<any>;
       };
@@ -61,10 +53,7 @@ export async function setMaxWorkers() {
         build.options.maxWorkers = 4;
       }
 
-      updateFile(
-        join(project.root, 'project.json'),
-        JSON.stringify(project, null, 2)
-      );
+      return project;
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/e2e/utils/index.ts b/e2e/utils/index.ts
index 07f20e19af..ea489d8560 100644
--- a/e2e/utils/index.ts
+++ b/e2e/utils/index.ts
@@ -8,6 +8,5 @@ export * from './create-project-utils';
 export * from './file-utils';
 export * from './get-env-info';
 export * from './log-utils';
-export * from './project-config-utils';
 export * from './test-utils';
 export * from './process-utils';
diff --git a/e2e/utils/project-config-utils.ts b/e2e/utils/project-config-utils.ts
deleted file mode 100644
index 37990e11c2..0000000000
--- a/e2e/utils/project-config-utils.ts
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,34 +0,0 @@
-import { ProjectConfiguration } from '@nx/devkit';
-import { join } from 'path';
-import { tmpProjPath } from './create-project-utils';
-import { readJson, updateFile } from './file-utils';
-import { retrieveProjectConfigurations } from '../../packages/nx/src/project-graph/utils/retrieve-workspace-files';
-import { readNxJson } from '../../packages/nx/src/config/nx-json';
-
-export async function updateProjectConfig(
-  projectName: string,
-  callback: (c: ProjectConfiguration) => ProjectConfiguration
-) {
-  const projects = await readResolvedConfiguration();
-  const root = projects[projectName].root;
-  const path = join(root, 'project.json');
-  const current = readJson(path);
-  updateFile(path, JSON.stringify(callback(current), null, 2));
-}
-
-export async function readResolvedConfiguration(): Promise<
-  Record<string, ProjectConfiguration>
-> {
-  process.env.NX_PROJECT_GLOB_CACHE = 'false';
-  const root = tmpProjPath();
-  return (await retrieveProjectConfigurations(root, readNxJson(root)))
-    .projectNodes;
-}
-
-export async function readProjectConfig(
-  projectName: string
-): Promise<ProjectConfiguration> {
-  const root = (await readResolvedConfiguration())[projectName].root;
-  const path = join(root, 'project.json');
-  return readJson(path);
-}
diff --git a/e2e/vite/src/vite.test.ts b/e2e/vite/src/vite.test.ts
index 925a9104ea..49d3a24912 100644
--- a/e2e/vite/src/vite.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/vite/src/vite.test.ts
@@ -19,8 +19,9 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 const myApp = uniq('my-app');
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ describe('Vite Plugin', () => {
           `
         );
 
-        await updateProjectConfig(myApp, (config) => {
+        updateJson(join('apps', myApp, 'project.json'), (config) => {
           config.targets.build.options.fileReplacements = [
             {
               replace: `apps/${myApp}/src/environments/environment.ts`,
@@ -434,7 +435,7 @@ export default defineConfig({
 });
 `;
       });
-      await updateProjectConfig(lib, (config) => {
+      updateJson(join('libs', lib, 'project.json'), (config) => {
         delete config.targets.test.options.reportsDirectory;
         return config;
       });
diff --git a/e2e/web/src/file-server.test.ts b/e2e/web/src/file-server.test.ts
index b9ef065200..3befa51433 100644
--- a/e2e/web/src/file-server.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/web/src/file-server.test.ts
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@ import {
   runCommandUntil,
   setMaxWorkers,
   uniq,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('file-server', () => {
   beforeAll(() => {
@@ -21,8 +22,8 @@ describe('file-server', () => {
     const port = 4301;
 
     runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --no-interactive`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets['serve'].executor = '@nx/web:file-server';
       return config;
     });
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ describe('file-server', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:static-config --buildTarget=${reactAppName}:build --targetName=custom-serve-static --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', reactAppName, 'project.json'));
 
     const port = 6200;
 
diff --git a/e2e/web/src/web-vite.test.ts b/e2e/web/src/web-vite.test.ts
index a827310dc1..e5fbe1f7c6 100644
--- a/e2e/web/src/web-vite.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/web/src/web-vite.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ import {
   setMaxWorkers,
   uniq,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Web Components Applications with bundler set as vite', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -20,7 +21,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications with bundler set as vite', () => {
   it('should be able to generate a web app', async () => {
     const appName = uniq('app');
     runCLI(`generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=vite --no-interactive`);
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${appName}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
@@ -51,7 +52,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications with bundler set as vite', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/react:lib ${libName} --bundler=vite --no-interactive --unitTestRunner=vitest`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     createFile(`dist/apps/${appName}/_should_remove.txt`);
     createFile(`dist/libs/${libName}/_should_remove.txt`);
diff --git a/e2e/web/src/web-webpack.test.ts b/e2e/web/src/web-webpack.test.ts
index 569f47a1e2..251971dff7 100644
--- a/e2e/web/src/web-webpack.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/web/src/web-webpack.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import {
   setMaxWorkers,
   uniq,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Web Components Applications with bundler set as webpack', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -16,7 +17,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications with bundler set as webpack', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     await runCommandUntil(`serve ${appName} --port=5000 --ssl`, (output) => {
       return output.includes('listening at https://localhost:5000');
diff --git a/e2e/web/src/web.test.ts b/e2e/web/src/web.test.ts
index 14cfa32acd..d84f82677d 100644
--- a/e2e/web/src/web.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/web/src/web.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import {
   tmpProjPath,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
 import { join } from 'path';
 import { copyFileSync } from 'fs';
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintResults = runCLI(`lint ${appName}`);
     expect(lintResults).toContain('All files pass linting.');
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --e2eTestRunner=playwright --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const lintE2eResults = runCLI(`lint ${appName}-e2e`);
 
@@ -131,7 +131,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/react:lib ${libName} --bundler=rollup --no-interactive --compiler swc --unitTestRunner=jest`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     createFile(`dist/apps/${appName}/_should_remove.txt`);
     createFile(`dist/libs/${libName}/_should_remove.txt`);
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --compiler=babel --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     updateFile(`apps/${appName}/src/app/app.element.ts`, (content) => {
       const newContent = `${content}
@@ -224,7 +224,7 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --compiler=swc --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     updateFile(`apps/${appName}/src/app/app.element.ts`, (content) => {
       const newContent = `${content}
@@ -267,9 +267,9 @@ describe('Web Components Applications', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       config.targets.build.options.webpackConfig = `apps/${appName}/webpack.config.js`;
       return config;
     });
@@ -388,7 +388,7 @@ describe('CLI - Environment Variables', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive --compiler=babel`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const content = readFile(main);
 
@@ -414,7 +414,7 @@ describe('CLI - Environment Variables', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName2} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive --compiler=babel`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName2, 'project.json'));
 
     const content2 = readFile(main2);
 
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ describe('Build Options', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const srcPath = `apps/${appName}/src`;
     const fooCss = `${srcPath}/foo.css`;
@@ -475,7 +475,7 @@ describe('Build Options', () => {
     const barScriptsBundleName = 'bar-scripts';
     const barStylesBundleName = 'bar-styles';
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       const buildOptions = config.targets.build.options;
 
       buildOptions.scripts = [
@@ -529,7 +529,7 @@ describe('index.html interpolation', () => {
     runCLI(
       `generate @nx/web:app ${appName} --bundler=webpack --no-interactive`
     );
-    await setMaxWorkers();
+    setMaxWorkers(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'));
 
     const srcPath = `apps/${appName}/src`;
     const indexPath = `${srcPath}/index.html`;
@@ -562,7 +562,7 @@ describe('index.html interpolation', () => {
     updateFile(envFilePath, envFileContents);
     updateFile(indexPath, indexContent);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(appName, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('apps', appName, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       const buildOptions = config.targets.build.options;
       buildOptions.deployUrl = 'baz';
       return config;
diff --git a/e2e/webpack/src/webpack.test.ts b/e2e/webpack/src/webpack.test.ts
index 4a28c276cb..d26bc1f19d 100644
--- a/e2e/webpack/src/webpack.test.ts
+++ b/e2e/webpack/src/webpack.test.ts
@@ -6,8 +6,9 @@ import {
   runCommand,
   uniq,
   updateFile,
-  updateProjectConfig,
+  updateJson,
 } from '@nx/e2e/utils';
+import { join } from 'path';
 
 describe('Webpack Plugin', () => {
   beforeEach(() => newProject());
@@ -45,7 +46,7 @@ module.exports = composePlugins(withNx(), (config) => {
     expect(output).not.toMatch(/Conflicting/);
     expect(output).not.toMatch(/process.env.NODE_ENV/);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       delete config.targets.build;
       return config;
     });
@@ -59,7 +60,7 @@ module.exports = composePlugins(withNx(), (config) => {
     output = runCommand(`node dist/libs/${myPkg}/main.js`);
     expect(output).toMatch(/Hello/);
 
-    await updateProjectConfig(myPkg, (config) => {
+    updateJson(join('libs', myPkg, 'project.json'), (config) => {
       delete config.targets.build;
       return config;
     });