Work to complete the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites in Meridian should wrap up in next month. Work is also under way to complete an access road from Highway 11/80.

    Work on the new Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites off Interstate 20/59 continues toward its anticipated opening next month.

    Bunky Partridge, director of the city of Meridian Community Development Department, said that a right-a-way negotiation was resolved last week. Work crews have had to build an access road linking the new hotel to Highway 11/80 in east Meridian.

    Developer John Tampa of Ascent Hospitality and Management of Dalton, Ga., was able to work out a deal with the previous land owner, Partridge said.

    “The attorneys for both parties met last week and the issues were resolved,” Partridge said. “It’s a great project and it should be completed by its January 2015 opening.”

    As for the access road, Partridge and Meridian Public Works Director Hugh Smith said it will initially be co-owned by the city and Tampa.

    “The first part of it, the city will own and Mr. Tampa will own the other part,” Partridge said. “At some point, the city will take over all of it.”

    Calls to Tampa for comment, were not returned.

    There will be 29 hotels in Meridian once the Marriott Fairfield Inn and Suites is completed, said Dede Mogollon, executive director of the Lauderdale County Tourism Bureau.

    “With this project and the new Sleep Inn that will come in also in 2015, the total hotel rooms for Meridian will go over the 2,000 mark,” Mogollon said.

    The Sleep Inn, which is being built off North Frontage Road behind the newly opened Holiday Inn, is expected to open by March 31, 2015, according to the company’s website. It will be Meridian’s 30th hotel, Mogollon said.