T. F. Green International Airport (PVD) must “keep up with the Joneses” according to Rhode Island Airport Corporation (RIAC) spokesperson Bill Fischer. At a meeting last week, the RIAC board approved several contracts for infrastructure and safety improvements.

RIAC contracted with Haynes Group, LLC to “complete the terminal upgrades project” for $64,614,213.99, according to the agenda. Haynes, who was the lowest bidder, has worked on other infrastructure projects at Boston Logan International Airport. 

“The terminal building at PVD was constructed in the 1990s, and much of the original finishes and the early systems had remained unchanged for nearly 30 years,” said RIAC Senior Vice President of Infrastructure Dawn Mineker. “PVD was voted number one in the U.S. by our passengers who want to stay at the top.”

“We got these customer satisfaction awards,” said Fischer, referring to PVD being voted best airport in America by Travel & Leisure magazine readers. “But you can’t rest on your laurels.”

According to Mineker, who presented on the infrastructure bid items, the terminal upgrades project will include new flooring to replace the existing carpeting and celling, wall and seating refurbishments. As of the Herald deadline, a comprehensive list of the terminal upgrades included in the project had not yet been provided by RIAC.

“This project will also increase gate capacity and seating counts throughout the terminal to best position PVD to accommodate the growing air service demand, resulting in an increase in passenger activity,” said Mineker.

The project is set to be completed by September 2027.

RIAC, a quasi-public agency, operates as an enterprise fund where the revenues from the airports pay for their operations. No state taxpayer dollars go towards the airports, according to Fischer.

The corporation, according to Fischer, is currently in “really good financial shape.” He said that RIAC is currently operating in a budget surplus, has been issued bond improvement ratings three years in a row and serves roughly four million passengers a year. According to RIAC’s website, PVD served more than 384,000 passengers in May 2025 alone. Data from May is the most recent figure posted to the website.

“Success brings success,” said Fischer. “Growth has brought success and people like this airport.”

The terminal upgrades are only one of the approved projects that are moving forward. Mineker presented several bid packages, in addition to the terminal upgrades, that were all approved by the board.

J. R. Vinagro Corporation, who has been contracted for other past airport projects, will complete a delivery parking lot rehabilitation project for $2,045,372.50, Taxiway V ‘remain overnight’ pavement project for $14,689,869. They will also relocate a water meter and install cobblestones in the new roundabout for $635,980.

Although one board member expressed concern about Vinagro’s ability to staff all of these projects, Mineker confirmed their ample resources.

The food court area that comes into view as passengers exit the TSA security checkpoint will also be refurbished. ZDS Architecture and Interior Design was contracted for $281,200 to complete the final architectural renderings and designs.

“The food hall is an essential common-use space for our passengers, and this action item is to complete the designs to transform the food hall to align with the improvements that we’re doing throughout the airport,” said Mineker.

In the words of Mineker, the meeting had a “common theme.”

“We’re growing, and we need to make improvements,” she said.