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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The Express Inn has been fenced off and empty for the past couple of months. The Colorado Springs motel used to be home to low-income tenants, and at one point had more than 150 people living there. The motel was closed by a court order and vacated on May 15 but could start to see some activity in a year.

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is interested in buying the property as part of the expansion project on Highway 24.

"I don't even get on [I-25] on this side of town, I'll take Academy Blvd. I'll drive 20 minutes out of my way because I can't wait in congestion in this heat," one Colorado Springs driver said.

More than 80,00 cars go through Cimarron and 8th Street everyday, and drivers said  they're tired of waiting in the long line of cars trying to cross the intersection.

CDOT is hoping to borrow $1.5 million currently budgeted with the I-25/Cimarron Interchange project. The department could save millions by buying the property now and avoiding paying future investors for the land or dealing with eminent domain.

"The Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments has been around for over 40 years, and Cimarron/I-25 issues have been around that long," Jason Wilkinson, Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Communication Manager, said. "So, it's great to be able to move on this."