BURLINGTON — If spring is an omen, then there should be

a new hotel along U.S. 52 by fall.

Work on the multi-million dollar Comfort Suites is slightly ahead of schedule, according to developer Hammond Patel.

“The progress is excellent. We’ve made tremendous progress,” Patel said. “We’re working on the first floor, anticipating to have the building under roof by this month. And all the interiors will start thereafter.”

At this stage Patel still expects to reach the September opening target date for the $4.2 million facility.

“We are working on the interior part,” said Patel who is going to Atlanta later this week to start making design selections.

There will be 62 units, all suites, with a breakfast area that will serve hot meals, an indoor swimming pool, a meeting room and a fitness center.

Comfort Suites is among 10 well-known brands, including Comfort Inn, Rodeway Inn and Suburban, under the umbrella of Choice Hotels International.

Patel, whose partners in the enterprise are Junior Patel and Nayan Hira, expects his market to be corporate and families.

“We’re going to try a family atmosphere,” he said. “Obviously we’re targeting reunions, birthdays.”

The developers are also exploring the possibility of building a conference center on the site.

It’s expected the hotel will have a staff of 20 from housekeeping to maintenance to desk clerk to management. If the conference center is built, that figure could climb to 25 or 28.

“We are very excited and looking forward for Lawrence County to support us,” Patel said. “We intend to succeed.”