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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- For some locals, expanding I-25 from North Academy Boulevard to Interquest Parkway is a road project that's long overdue.

"Everytime we go to Denver for any family affair or any kind of function, we are always caught in the traffic jam," Kathy Daschbach, a Colorado Springs driver, said.

Now an unexpected $229 million could go towards a widening project, adding two lanes in the median.

The money for the four-mile stretch is coming from two sources: $102 million from the Federal Highway Administration and $127 million from state savings on previous road work.

"This particular project design is done. We're ready to go, and that's the importance of doing advance planning, because once the project is ready then you can apply for the dollars and get started," Sallie Clark, El Paso County Commissioner, said.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) an average of 91,000 cars travel between Academy and Briargate Parkway everyday and 82,000 between Briargate and Interquest Parkway.

While the widening project wouldn't decrease the number of drivers on I-25, it would help with traffic flow.

If the project is selected, construction could start as soon as spring 2012 and would cost approximately $36 million, $5 million of which would come from Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments. CDOT would pay the remaining $31 million.

"I think they should distribute the dollars somewhere else besides the construction site because there's more jobs out there that are needed," Carylon Sanders, a Colorado Springs driver, said.

While jobs drive our economy, this traffic is driving a lot of people mad.

The big decision is expected to come down on Thursday from the Colorado Transportation Commission.

Besides the Colorado Springs project the twin tunnel project in Denver is also getting a lot of attention.