Construction of the next phase of the Scioto Mile park through downtown Columbus has moved a bit closer with the selection of a construction manager for the $38 million project.

Messer Construction Co. has completed negotiations on the contract to manage the private-public project that includes improvements to Bicentennial Park and features that will make Civic Center Drive more accommodating for pedestrians.

Messer and the Columbus Downtown Development Corp., which serves as project developer for the city, expect the project to get under way in May after a ground-breaking in mid-April. Completion is set for fall 2011.

Messer executives said the first phase of the project will reduce Civic Center Drive from five southbound lanes to two lanes headed north and two headed south between West Broad and West Rich streets. One lane of traffic will be maintained during construction.

The space gained by eliminating the fifth lane will create room for a pedestrian promenade overlooking the Scioto River under a Myers/Schmalenberger Inc. design unveiled last November.

“It’s an important project for the community,” said Tim Gusler, Messer’s vice president of operations. “It will receive a lot of attention.”

The second phase of the project is scheduled to begin in 2009. That phase includes a small canal as part of the promenade, as well as construction of a band shell and a glass-walled cafe at Bicentennial Park.

Separately, Messer is building a public garage nearby at South Front and Rich streets for Capitol South Community Urban Redevelopment Corp., another city-affiliated developer.

The city and Columbus-based American Electric Power Company Inc. have pledged $10 million each for the park project, a keystone in the city’s planned bicentennial celebration in 2012.

“This project has been a long-held dream for the community,” said Columbus Downtown Development spokeswoman Amy Taylor. “Now it will become a reality.”