Work continues to move ahead on an ambitious project to widen Mooney Boulevard -- State Route 63 -- through central and southern Visalia from four to six lanes.

In six phases expected to last through late 2009 and cost about $12 million, Caltrans is beefing up the retail-heavy route, often clogged with more traffic than it can handle, from four to six lanes. Work is nearing completion on the first stage of the work, the southbound lanes of Mooney from Meadow Avenue near the College of the Sequoias to Walnut Avenue, near the Visalia Mall.

Once that's wrapped up, the second stage will begin on southbound Mooney between Walnut Avenue and Sunnyside Avenue near the Sequioa Mall.

Caltrans will hold a pre-construction meeting from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 11 to let businesses, residents and commuters know how the Stage 2 work will affect their business, neighborhoods and driving routes. The meeting will be in the former Victoria's Secret space in the Visalia Mall, near the north entrance off Walnut Avenue.

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