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Prince George's County and state officials said Friday's opening of the interchange off Interstate 95 will allow easier access to FedEx Field in Landover and to the Boulevard at the Capital Centre in Largo, providing an economic boost to the center.

"It took a few months to build [Redskins] stadium, but 12 years to build access," said Lt. Gov. Anthony Brown (D) at a ceremony Friday for the interchange's opening.

"The project allows the community to have greater access each and every day, full-time access to our neighborhood around the [Boulevard at the] Capital Centre. A robust transportation structure is key in central Prince George's County."

The interchange opened in 1997, but only for Redskins football games or when there was an event at the stadium. Federal highway regulations prohibited the full-time use of the interchange due to concerns about insufficient distances between Landover Road, Arena Drive and Central Avenue — one mile away.

As traffic and area development increased, residents, businesses, churches and elected officials asked that Arena Drive be opened full-time to allow direct access throughout the communities.

The opening of Arena Drive allows traffic off Interstate 95 to go directly to the Boulevard at the Capital Centre, without using the interchange connections at Routes 214 or 202, and to FedEx Field, and back onto Interstate 95.

Now, Arena Drive connects the Boulevard and Redskins Stadium by one road for the two destinations less than two miles apart. Before, that same trip took more than five miles.

The state and federally funded project, which began in spring 2007, cost more than $32 million.

The project included widening both sides of Interstate 95 to allow for two new lanes on each side and the necessary modifications to the Route 214 and 202 interchanges, among other things.

"We believe it's going to do some wonders for the property — it's been a long time coming and we're appreciative that it's happened," said Bill Parks, vice president of property management for Illinois-based Inland U.S. Management LLC, which manages the Boulevard at the Capital Centre. "It's great access — you make a right, another right and you're in my shopping center."

Councilmember Samuel Dean (D-Dist. 6) of Mitchellville said the opening of Arena Drive should help the Boulevard at the Capital Centre financially.

There are four vacancies at the center, which currently has 76 tenants. The vacancies include Linens 'N Things and Circuit City because they went out of business.

"It's been a long time coming," Dean said. "Now we will be able to bring businesses to the Boulevard."

The easier accessibility to the center could be a lure to potential retailers — a greater number of potential shoppers now have easier access to the center.

Sen. David Harrington (D-Dist. 47) of Cheverly said for far too long people have driven by the Boulevard at the Capital Centre without easy access to it.

"This is a major coup for Prince George's County," Harrington said.

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.