Former governor Donald Carcieri cut the ribbon on T.F. Green Airport's InterLink facility in October.
The $267 million multimodal facility connects the airport with a rental car facility, intercity bus services and a commuter train platform soon to be serviced by the Mass. Bay Transportation Authority.
"The [Interlink] is a beautiful, environmentally-friendly facility that provides T.F. Green Airport with amenities that are on a par with the most prominent and advanced airports in the nation," said Carcieri.
Travelers will now pick up their luggage on the lower level of the airport and walk south to the terminal end connection. On the third floor, travelers will enter the Skywalk which leads to the InterLink's customer service operations building, and the garage and fueling platform, the governor's office said in a news release.
InterLink, touting the slogan "Connecting You to New England," will house all rental car operations in a six-story parking garage, shifting traffic away from the airport terminal and Post Rd. area.
MBTA commuter trains are expected to begin weekday service between Warwick, Providence and Boston later this fall.
The InterLink facility, which broke ground in 2006, has employed more than 535 construction workers. It has taken 530,000 hours to complete. Eighty subcontractors were involved in its design, engineering, manufacturing and construction.
The four main areas of construction were: garage and fueling platform, customer service operations building, the Skywalk standing 35 feet above the ground, and various terminal-end improvements, including the elevators and escalators that connect the airport terminal building to the Skywalk.
The Gilbane Building Co. served as the construction manager of the project, PB Americas was the project manager and Jacobs Engineering Group was the "designer of record."
The governor's office also highlighted the "green" aspects of the intermodal facility, including recycled construction materials, water-conserving bathroom fixtures, and energy-efficient elevators, moving sidewalks and lighting.
Reprinted from Providence Business News' pbn.com, Oct. 27.