AURORA | Westbound Interstate 70 will be closed overnight next week at the E-470 ramps on the highway.
“This closure is required to remove current overhead signs and install new project signs for the I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project,” a statement from the city said.
All westbound I-70 traffic will be diverted for the one exit at the off-ramp to E-470 and redirected back onto I-70 through the on-ramp from 9 p.m. Monday Dec. 8 until 5 a.m. the next morning.
Due to third-party utility delays, the divergent diamond interchange, or DDI, for the I-70 Picadilly Interchange just west of the street closure is slated to open to travelers by late December, “weather permitting and barring any unforeseen circumstances,” according to the statement.
The DDI on I-70, which will criss-cross the road like a double helix, is similar to the DDI on US 36 at McCaslin Boulevard in Superior.
“Although the interchange will be open and functioning, finishing work associated with temperature and weather-dependent activities will continue in early 2026,” the statement said.
Once the interchange opens, Piccadilly Road from East 19th Avenue to Smith Road will remain closed until early 2026, and finishing work will continue through spring 2026. The remaining activities may require intermittent lane closures, the statement said.
“The diverging diamond interchange (DDI) on I-70 features enhanced safety measures that reduce risks to drivers, pedestrians and bicyclists, including advanced signaling systems, wider lanes, improved lighting and a new bicycle and pedestrian path through the DDI,” the statement said.
This design-build project plans to extend Picadilly Road between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road and will create a new interchange for I-70 in Aurora.
“Improved north-south connectivity will unlock a roadway network and make Picadilly Road a key corridor for the region,” the statement said. “The interchange will improve safety, alleviate congestion, and connect people and commerce to job centers, new neighborhoods and the nation’s third busiest airport.”
For details on the project, visit AuroraGov.org/I70Picadilly.