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DENVER — Major demolition is beginning for the Central 70 project, which will widen 10 miles of Interstate 70 in Denver, and that means the end of an iconic motel.

Demolition crews began tearing down the Colonial Motor Motel, just north of I-70 between Elizabeth Street and Thompson Court, on Saturday morning in a process that will take about four weeks.

Construction on the interstate, which will include destroying the viaduct and putting a portion of the lanes underground, will begin in the summer.

It’s a controversial project that has displaced dozens of people from more than 50 homes and nearly 20 businesses.

Many people have complained to the Colorado Department of Transportation about the project. But plenty of others are in favor of it.

“I think it’s a good idea,” said Carlos Saenz, who owns Easy P Auto Salvage that’s just south of the motel. “Obviously, everything takes a long process. But definitely, it’s a good project for Denver because the traffic has been hard for all of us.”

Saenz hopes that when the Central 70 project is complete in about four years, it’ll spruce up his neighborhood and increase business.