COLONIE — With a cruise in a 1932 Packard that once transported Gov. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Wednesday heralded the opening of the Northway's new Exit 3 and improvements to Exit 4.

In a news conference at the Desmond, Cuomo announced that all ramps at the two exits would open Wednesday, bringing to a close the state's effort to improve access to the Albany International Airport and surrounding communities in Colonie.

The southbound exit and entrance ramps at Exit 3 off of the Northway opened earlier this fall, and the northbound flyover from the highway to Albany Shaker Road opened Wednesday.

Spanning the highway, the flyover is the most distinctive addition to the project. After the news conference, Cuomo was joined in the Packard by state and local officials — including Albany County Executive Daniel P. McCoy and Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan — for a drive along the new span, escorted by two flatbed trucks packed with windswept reporters.

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As a final touch on the $32.2 million project, the governor disclosed that a new arch would be built on Albany Shaker Road to note the entryway to the airport.

For decades, there was no exit on the Northway between Exit 2 and Exit 4. In 2009, McDonald's made reference to it in a TV ad for its coffee that highlighted local oddities.

A sign erected on the Northway in 1971 that said Exit 3 was "to be built" was eventually removed. During an appearance last month, Cuomo joked "they forgot Exit 3." And on Wednesday, he said that "after 20 years, you have to take down the 'coming soon' sign."

Under the original plan, Exit 3 would have connected to an Interstate 687 which had been designed — but never built — to link downtown Albany and the airport. I-687 would have tunneled under Washington Park from the Empire State Plaza to what is now the Corporate Woods exit on Interstate 90 before continuing on to the airport; the concept was scrapped decades ago following citizen opposition.

The Packard was originally used by Roosevelt to get around Albany, and eventually made its way to the New York State Museum. Cuomo had it returned to operating condition in time for the opening of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement, formally known as the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge, last year.

While the new exit was completed on budget and a year early, work continues on $50 million in airport improvements, including a new 1,000-vehicle parking garage and upgrades to the 20-year-old main terminal.