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Diverging Diamond Interchange now open!

The city of Aurora’s new diverging diamond interchange (DDI) at I-70 and Picadilly Road is now open (as of Feb. 9, 2026) to all lanes of travel in all directions for vehicle traffic. The newly constructed Picadilly Road from East 19th Avenue to Smith Road is also open, along with the new bike and pedestrian pathways. 

The new DDI at Picadilly Road and I-70 features advanced signaling systems, wider lanes, improved lighting, and a new bicycle and pedestrian path through the DDI.

This will provide safer and more accessible infrastructure for the northeast metro area and improve the safety and quality of life for non-motorized users.

Picadilly is now one continuous road, stretching across I-70 to connect past Smith Road to the north and Colfax Avenue to the south.

Occasional lane closures may occur this summer. Please check this webpage for any traffic impacts or subscribe to our Road Construction Roundup newsletter.

Watch this video to find out more about how the interchange works.

Continuing Traffic Impacts

• Daytime various alternating right- and left-lane closures on eastbound and westbound I-70 near Colfax Avenue, Monday through Saturday, may be in place through the end of April.
• Intermittent lane closures in the DDI may be required later this summer for final construction activities.

About the Project

This design-build project has extended Picadilly Road between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road via an interchange onto I-70 in Aurora. Improved north-south connectivity has contributed to a growing roadway network and now makes Picadilly Road a key arterial point for the region. The interchange is improving safety, alleviating congestion, and connecting people and commerce to job centers, new neighborhoods and the nation's third busiest airport. 

With significant residential, commercial and industrial growth along the I-70 corridor, new measures from this project are essential to enhance connectivity. 

Project Benefits

The region is expected to experience many additional benefits from the project. These include:

• Reduction of emissions, freight time and hauling costs.
• Minimized out-of-direction travel for area residents and businesses.
• Savings of up to $132 million in vehicle-operating and travel time.
• Reduced congestion and bottlenecks.

Project Background

The project kicked off in August 2023, but collaborative efforts among Aurora city leadership, the Colorado Department of Transportation, Adams County, the Aerotropolis Regional Transportation Authority and the Federal Highway Administration began long before the start of construction. 

In 2019, the city of Aurora received its full request of a $25 million federal grant from the Federal Highway Administration. This was the maximum amount permitted per project under the BUILD multimodal surface transportation grant program. The I-70 Picadilly Interchange Project was one of only six projects in the nation to receive this amount—a testament to how critical this improved connection point is to both the region and the country. The grant served as the funding catalyst needed to accelerate the start of construction for this long-planned strategic infrastructure priority.