RIFLE, Colo. ” Six weeks ago, Comfort Suites started construction of a 90-room motel on the east end of the Wal-Mart parking lot in Rifle.

Early last week, they halted construc­tion due to financing and tough econom­ic times.

“I don’t know if the current financier will continue to finance the project,” said Assistant City Manager Matt Sturgeon. “It sounds to me like the lender is re-evaluat­ing where they’re going to put their mon­ey.”

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Building official Jerry Long said the con­struction halt is definitely due to the econ­omy.

“From what I understand, (the bank) has been a hold on the loan and is review­ing it,” Long said. “It’s a blanket approach banks are taking now.”

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Construction of three other motels in the city, however, is going forward. A Super 8 Motel is under construction at South Seventh Street and Garden Lane, west of the former Centennial Gardens; a Hampton Inn is being built on Airport Road between Grand River Medical Cen­ter and Rib City Grille; and an expansion of the Centennial Suites motel next to the Fiesta Guadalajara restaurant on Access Road is half finished.

The city has five other motels ” the La Quinta Inn and Suites on Airport Road; the Rusty Cannon Motel and the Red Riv­er Inn, both on Taughenbaugh Boulevard; the Winchester Motel on Fifth Street and Railroad Avenue; and the Buckskin Motel on Ray Avenue in West Rifle.

hrice@postindependent.com