Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

The City of Selma is beginning two infrastructure projects that repave 70 blocks of the city and pave a parking lot at the city’s welcome center to enhance access for tourists.

A press conference was held on Friday, Jan. 31, at the corner of Water Ave and Washington St for local officials to provide details on the project.

The first project, funded by $2.4 million in grants from the Delta Regional Authority (DRA), involves street resurfacing and drainage improvements to address longstanding infrastructure challenges across 70+ blocks. This project, officials said, will significantly enhance public safety, mitigate flooding, and improve road conditions for residents and visitors alike. 

The design phase is beginning on a second major project funded through a Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant, in partnership with the National Park Service, to improve the parking lot and access to the Selma Interpretive Center.

Congresswoman Terri Sewell said she was enthusiastic for the projects.

“The Delta Regional Authority’s support for street resurfacing and drainage improvements will uplift our community and ensure safer, more resilient neighborhoods. Additionally, the FLAP grant represents another step forward in our collaboration with the National Park Service to enhance the visitor experience with the $10 million expansion along the Selma to Montgomery Trail, a cornerstone of our civil rights history,” Sewell said.

Mayor James Perkins, Jr. said thanks to our partnerships, they will address critical infrastructure needs and investing in the city’s future.

“ These projects will enhance the quality of life for our residents while honoring Selma’s place in history as a beacon of progress and resilience,” Perkins said.

Danielle Wooten , Planning and Development Director believes these projects will create a stronger, safer, and more connected Selma by continuing the work to build a better future after decades of disinvestment.”