-May 3,2021-
New county clinic in Visalia
Tulare County HHSA says they will build a new Infectious Disease Clinic on Dinuba Blvd.The plan is abide a new 4750sf building at 2611 N Dinuba Blvd in Visalia.
Payday loan biz closes
Southwestern & Pacific Specialty Finance Inc. Store #2963 – Axcess Financial announced in a state WARN notice they are closing stores across the state including in Visalia. The company operates as Check ‘n Go. The state banned these types of high interest loan operations.
Highway 99 through Tulare to be widened
The state plans to continue the widening of Highway 99 south through a five mile stretch in the City of Tulare. Besides adding an extra lane in each direction TCAG reports that in January 2021, the Project Development Team, including the Tulare County Association of Governments and representatives of the City of Tulare, agreed to increase the scope of the project. The existing Paige Avenue overcrossing is now proposed to be removed and replaced with a new bridge, and two additional roundabouts on Paige Avenue would be built at Blackstone Street and Laspina Street.
Caltrans is proposing to widen State Route 99 in the City of Tulare from just south of the Avenue 200 overcrossing to just north of the Prosperity Avenue overcrossing (post miles 25.4 to 30.6).
In addition, the existing Paige Avenue interchange would be reconstructed to a tight diamond layout with roundabouts at the ramp ends. Two additional roundabouts would be constructed on Paige Avenue at Blackstone Street and Laspina Street. The Paige Avenue overcrossing would be replaced with a wider structure with two lanes in each direction and a pedestrian/bicycle shared path on both sides.
.Funding for the project would be budgeted in fiscal year 22/23. Right of way acquisition to be completed in Summer 2025 –
Construction to begin in Spring 2026. Construction to be completed Spring 2029. Total cost is expected to be $217 million.
Also , Caltrans has an upcoming project that would rehab SR-99 from the Kern County border to .7 miles north of Court Avenue in Pixley (SR-99 (Delano)) at a cost of $74.3 million. At the April 1st San Joaquin Valley COG Directors meeting, the directors unanimously voted that all remaining Prop 1B, SR-99 bond savings be applied to the SR-99 (Delano) project. The cost savings is estimated to be $18 million to $25 million depending on the close out costs of a few remaining SR-99 projects that have finished construction. In addition to the SR-99 bond savings funding, Caltrans has requested $2 million for design funding and $2 million for construction support from TCAG.
At a recent meeting $4 million of COVID-19 relief funding will be divided the SR-99 (Delano) project, $1,120,700 to the SR- 99/Caldwell Ave Interchange project and $3.1 million of regular STBGP funding to the Riggin Ave. widening project in Visalia.
40MW solar farm on tap near Tulare
Tulare County intends to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the Tulare 40 Generation Facility Project located 5 miles east of the City of Tulare and east of Road 152. The project site is addressed as 23599 and 22996, Road 152.The project is being proposed by Coldwell Solar based in Rocklin, CA. The power would connect to the Bliss substation operated by SCE.