It remained available ever since - until now.
Five years later, in December 2012, GTA United 1.2 was released. Then, in late 2007, the beta for a combined effort called GTA United was released. The beta for 'Liberty City 2 San Andreas' came out soon after. The first beta of what was then known as 'Vice City 2 San Andreas' came out in early 2007.
Work on the free, non-commercial mod began in 2006.