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TUCSON - The Grant Road expansion project is slowly but surely moving forward.

Monday, city workers held the first of three meetings this week, to make sure everyone knows the plan.

The project will widen Grant Road, from four to six lanes between Oracle Road and Swan Road.

The project will cover a little more than five miles and the Regional Transportation Authority estimates it will cost about $116 million. RTA estimates the project will take more than a decade to complete, with a completion date of 2026.

Monday's meeting was largely to talk about land use and planning, and the people losing their property to make this project possible. It will affect a lot of people with about 400 properties being demolished to make room.

The Grant Road expansion has been talked about for what seems like forever because with the high amount of traffic on Grant Road, the need is almost a no brainer.

Project Manager Michael Holder said, "Everyone knows Grant Road needs to be widened."

But making it a reality hasn't been easy. There have been hundreds of meetings, but because this project is so huge organizers said a few more couldn't hurt.

Holder said, "It's always news to someone we're doing this so we just need to keep in touch with everybody and let them know where we've been and where we're going so that it's not a surprise to anyone."

Mike Grassinger is one of the planners involved with the project. He said, "It just gives a lot of personal attention to each one of these property owners involved in it."

But for others the meeting was a chance to keep a close eye on how it's all being built.

Gloria Townsend is in a wheel chair and said she went to the meeting to represent all handicapped people. She said, "What I'm most concerned about is safety. It doesn't matter how great you make these places, if we can't get to them we can't spend our money."

But one thing the meetings can't help with is the unexpected, like how much construction could hurt business.

Beverly McAlister is the owner of All Vehicle Inc. She said, "I don't know. I'm hoping that I'm still in business after construction to be honest with you."

The meeting Monday was the first of three this week, one for each section of the project that stretches from Oracle to Swan.

So what about construction? When are we going to see some actual work?

Bids for the first section from Oracle to Stone should be out in March construction should begin in April or May.