I-70 Picadilly Interchange Groundbreaking Aug. 1
A groundbreaking ceremony celebrating the start of construction for the city of Aurora’s I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 1, at Picadilly Road and East 19th Avenue.
The event will coincide with Colorado Day, celebrating this major transportation project led by the city of Aurora and supported by partners like the Colorado Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, Adams County and the Aerotropolis Regional Transportation Authority.
Featured speakers include Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman, the Federal Highway Administration’s Colorado Division Administrator John Cater, Chairman, Aerotropolis Regional Transportation Authority, Matt Hopper, Adams County District 2 Commissioner Chaz Tedesco, and the city of Aurora’s Director of Public Works Cindy Colip. Representatives from CDOT and the Office of U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet will also be in attendance.
The public is encouraged to attend to meet the project’s partners, enjoy refreshments and learn more about the project. Call 720.477.3799 or email [email protected] to RSVP for the event.
Construction has been planned for more than a decade and is scheduled to start this fall, with completion in late 2025. The project’s goals are to transform regional connectivity, increase mobility, reduce congestion, and improve safety for Aurora and beyond.
The I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project will extend Picadilly Road between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road, linking 8 new miles of roadway with an interchange onto I-70 in Aurora. Improved north-south connectivity will unlock a roadway network and make Picadilly Road a key arterial point for the region.
“This critical transportation improvement in Aurora will fulfill a long-planned, strategic infrastructure priority for one of the state’s most rapidly growing and important regions,” Aurora Mayor Mike Coffman said. “The I-70 Picadilly interchange will improve safety, alleviate congestion and connect people and commerce to job centers, new neighborhoods and the nation’s third busiest airport.”
The idea for a new interchange at I-70 and Picadilly Road was first presented in 2007 during an environmental assessment of the I-70/E-470 Interchange Complex. In 2020, a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) document allowed the city to proceed.
To learn more about the project and sign up for weekly information updates, please visit AuroraGov.org/I70Picadilly.
ABOUT THE I-70 PICADILLY INTERCHANGE PROJECT
With significant residential, commercial and industrial growth along the I-70 corridor, new measures are essential to enhance connectivity. The I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project will minimize out-of-direction travel for area residents and businesses. The diverging diamond interchange (DDI) design features enhanced safety measures including advanced signaling systems, wider lanes and improved lighting that reduce risks to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists. The new bicycle and pedestrian path through the DDI will also provide safe and accessible infrastructure for the northeast Denver metro area, and will improve the safety and quality of life for non-motorized users.
As a result, the region will experience a reduction of emissions, freight time and hauling costs. Other project benefits include reducing congestion and improving safety, leading to an estimated savings of $132 million in vehicle-operating and travel time over the life of the project.
A $25 million federal grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation is helping fund the interchange. The city received its full request for funding and the maximum amount permitted per project under the BUILD multimodal surface transportation grant program. The I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project is one of six projects in the entire country to receive this amount. Learn more about the I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project at AuroraGov.org/I70Picadilly.