Aurora’s Picadilly Interchange Is Open, but Summer Lane Impacts May Remain

Aurora’s diverging-diamond interchange at I-70 and Picadilly Road is open to vehicle traffic in all directions, but intermittent lane closures may still be needed later in summer 2026 for final construction activities.

The interchange at I-70 Exit 288 opened on February 9, 2026. The City of Aurora says the newly constructed Picadilly Road segment between East 19th Avenue and Smith Road is open, along with new bicycle and pedestrian pathways.

What is open now

Drivers can use Picadilly Road to cross I-70 and access the interstate ramps. The project creates a continuous north-south connection extending between Colfax Avenue and Smith Road, with the interchange serving as the crossing point over I-70.

The completed facility uses a diverging-diamond design. In that layout, traffic shifts to the opposite side of the bridge approach, allowing vehicles to reach the interstate ramps without the conventional opposing-traffic crossing pattern at the ramp intersections. Signals control the points where traffic moves across the roadway.

People walking or biking can use the new pathways through the interchange. Aurora identifies those pathways as part of the completed Picadilly connection.

Why drivers should watch the signs

Aurora warns that overhead ramp signage has changed. Drivers using Exit 288 should follow the current overhead signs rather than rely on the previous traffic pattern or familiar ramp descriptions.

The layout may feel different from a conventional interchange because traffic shifts across the bridge before vehicles reach the ramps. Drivers should stay in their marked lanes, obey the signals and pay close attention during their first trips through the area.

Possible summer lane closures

The interchange is operating, but that does not mean every construction activity is complete. Aurora’s project page says intermittent lane closures in the diverging diamond may be required later in summer 2026 for final construction activities.

The cited project notice does not specify dates and times for those possible closures. Travelers with time-sensitive trips should check Aurora’s road-construction updates and current traffic information before using the interchange.

The practical distinction is straightforward: the interchange and connecting Picadilly roadway are open, while limited final-construction work may temporarily restrict lanes.

What the current information does not show

Aurora and the Colorado Department of Transportation describe expected project benefits, including improved north-south connectivity, fewer out-of-direction trips and potential reductions in congestion and travel costs. Those are project descriptions and forecasts, not current measured results.

The available information as of August 4, 2026 does not provide traffic counts, measured congestion results or crash data for the completed interchange. The verified update is therefore about access and operating status: Aurora residents, commuters, freight drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians can use the connection, but should follow the new signs and remain alert for possible intermittent lane restrictions later this summer.

Sources

• City of Aurora — Road Construction Updates
• Colorado Department of Transportation — I-70 Picadilly Design-Build