The U.S. Department of Transportation recently awarded the city of Aurora with a $25 million federal grant to help fund the $56.6 million I-70/Picadilly Interchange Project that has been planned for more than a decade. The city and private developers also will contribute funding to this project.
The city received its full request for funding and the maximum amount permitted per project under the BUILD multimodal surface transportation grant program. It was only one of six projects in the entire country to receive this amount.
The National Environmental Policy Act document under review should be approved by early 2020, and it will take about a year after that to complete design and right-of-way acquisition. Construction could start by mid-2021, with completion in 2023.
Background
The idea of a new interchange at I-70 and Picadilly Road was first presented in 2007 when a National Environmental Policy Act document called Finding of No Significant Impact was completed as part of the environmental assessment of the I-70/E-470 Interchange Complex. In the last decade, numerous transportation and land-use plans also have included the project.
This current project focuses on a comprehensive and detailed new National Environmental Policy Act document called a Reevaluation that looks specifically at the I-70/Picadilly Interchange. This Reevaluation will allow the city to advance the I-70/Picadilly interchange to a more "shovel-ready" status.
Last summer, the Reevaluation project team began collecting information on traffic counts, accident data, noise measurements, wildlife information, land use and development plans. Work on the new Reevaluation, including new traffic and environmental data, confirmation of engineering plans, development of a conceptual layouts and public outreach, should be finished later this year. Once funding is secured, design, right of way acquisition and construction of the interchange can begin.
About the Project
The I-70/Picadilly Interchange project will construct a new interchange on Interstate 70 in Aurora to facilitate much-needed north-south connectivity on Picadilly Road where it intersects with the I-70 corridor. This project will unlock a roadway network that can connect people and commerce to Denver International Airport and the adjacent Colorado Aerotropolis, a developing world-class residential, commercial and industrial community expected to create 74,000 jobs in the area by 2040.
I-70/Picadilly Interchange
The project includes a new interchange at Picadilly Road and I-70, along with a connection of Picadilly between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road to connect to the new interchange.
Purpose
A new interchange at Picadilly Road was included as party of the overall federal action analyzed in the I-70/E-470 Interchange Complex Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI). The project's purpose is the same as what is documented in the EA and FONSI: to link the freeway and tollway systems in an efficient and safe manner while maintaining and enhancing local access for the existing and planned roadway system and future travel demand.
The following information is provided to support the public and agency involvement process for this project.
Enhance Access for Adjacent Land Uses
There is a need for adequate infrastructure to support planned population and employment growth. The area presently supports 10,000 jobs and over 18 million square feet of warehouse and industrial land use. The Aerotropolis Visioning Study projected a possible addition of 74,000 jobs in the area by 2040. The continued development of Prologis holdings, expansion of Majestic Commercenter, the future Horizon Uptown Activity Center and the future Aurora Highlands are collectively providing millions of square feet of industrial space and hundreds of households. In addition, the 16-million-square-foot Porteos mixed-use development is planned in this area, and the Gaylord Rockies Resort & Conference Center is expected to generate 2,500 permanent jobs.
An interchange at Picadilly Road has been included on transportation and land use plans for more than a decade. Discussion of the interchange has been included in these recently completed and adopted documents:
- E-470/I-70 Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (2006-07)
- Denver Regional Council of Governments 2040 Metro Vision Regional Transportation Plan (2017)
- Draft Aurora Places Comprehensive Plan (2018) and Previous City of Aurora Comprehensive Plans (2003 and 2009)
- Colorado Department of Transportation Colorado Aerotropolis Visioning Study (2016)
- Arapahoe County 2035 Transportation Plan (2010)
- Adams County Transportation Plan (2012)
- City of Aurora Northeast Area Transportation Original Studies (2003 and 2007) and Refresh (2018)
- City of Aurora's Street Construction Priority Program for the area south of DIA (2015)
Project Benefits
Creates up to eight miles of regional connectivity and establishes Picadilly Road as a key arterial, resulting in a profound reduction in out-of-direction travel and hauling costs
Increases mobility to handle projected trips associated with growth, and increases opportunities for local residents to work close to home as development progresses
Reduces congestion and improves safety, with fewer crashes and more than $106 million in vehicle operating and travel time savings over the life of the project
Better connects local residents to job opportunities in growing employment centers, and alleviates congestion that impedes access to jobs