The widening of Highway 118 in Moorpark could begin next year once environmental documentation and city right-of-way acquisitions are completed, state officials said Wednesday.

California Department of Transportation officials and representatives from Moorpark met with residents at a public hearing on the proposed widening of the road from four to six lanes between Moorpark Avenue and Spring Road.

On the north side of Los Angeles Avenue, road widening would extend from Moorpark Avenue to Millard Street, and on the south side, from 148 Los Angeles Ave. to east of Spring Road. Several residential developments and a shopping center line the strip proposed for widening.

The project is a joint venture between Caltrans and Moorpark in an effort to improve existing and forecasted traffic congestion and improve traffic safety.

The estimated cost to widen the stretch is $1.9 million, which will be funded through a Surface Transportation Program federal grant and city development fees.

Reza Fateh, project manager for Caltrans, said residents can still submit comments to Caltrans about the project until June 12.

After that date, Caltrans officials will review the comments and determine if the project should move forward or alternatives should be explored.

If the project moves forward, Fateh said, environmental documents would be completed by September 2008, then right-of-way acquisitions would take about a year to finalize. Road widening construction would take an additional six to nine months to complete.

Fateh said two entire properties, 240 Los Angeles Ave. and 148 Los Angeles Ave., would need to be acquired by the city for completion of the project.

Both have residences on them.

David Bobardt, planning director of Moorpark, said the city's general plan adopted in 1992 called for Los Angeles Avenue to be six lanes throughout the length of the city.

He said that a second section of the highway, located west of Leta Yancy Road along Los Angeles Avenue, will also eventually be widened by the developer of a proposed housing development in that area.

Area residents expressed concerns about increased truck traffic on Los Angeles Avenue and why the entire length of Highway 118, which runs from Moorpark into Somis, isn't also widened.

Fateh said Caltrans has no plans to widen the highway beyond the Moorpark city limits but will begin studying possible improvements at the road's intersection with Highway 34.

Copies of the initial study of the Moorpark road widening project are available at the city's Web site, http://www.ci.moorpark.ca.us.

It is also available for review at the city Department of Community Development office and the Moorpark City Library.

Comments can be sent to Aziz Elattar, office chief, Caltrans Office of Environmental Planning, 100 S. Main St., Los Angeles, CA 90012.