During the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony Saturday, Selma Mayor Darrio Melton unveiled Phase I of the Historic Riverwalk Project.

Construction is expected to start in 2017 with a pier overlooking the Alabama River next to the Bridge Tender’s House on Water Avenue. The pier will be a part replica of the former draw bridge.

“We are very excited because we know that riverfront is part of the vessel of downtown … so that will bring a whole lot of traction to the St. James area as well as to the other part of the riverfront,” Melton said. “So hopefully that can help with the leasing and selling of that hotel to know that we are doing some things down by the riverfront.”

The project began under former Selma Mayor George Evans and is now in the hands of Melton.

“We were fortunate to come in at the point where people are ready to move forward with it, and we were able to just sign off on it. We’ll be looking forward to 2017 and the construction of it during that year.”

Melton said he believes the construction on the project will begin in the spring, and will hopefully be completed by the end of the summer or beginning of the fall.

Melton said the project is part of an overall goal of revitalizing downtown, and there are more projects in the works.

“There will be a phase II that we’re now applying for to build an entire river walk,” Melton said.

“There was some corrosion on the riverbanks that we are currently working on trying to get that fixed … to make sure that we have a solid standing while we’re making this program down there.”

Melton said he is also wanting to complete the Selma Riverfront Amphitheater.

“The riverfront is major. We’re blessed to be a city that’s on the river and not to utilize the resources that we have on the river would be not wise for us,” Melton said.  “I think it would be major as we continue to develop that riverfront to attract more people downtown longterm. We would love to see more people living downtown. It’s major in regards to bringing life back downtown.”