The Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority on Monday approved a construction contract to relocate the airport security control room.
Board members unanimously voted to award the $488,500 contract to Construction Consultants Inc., a Chattanooga-based firm.
John Naylor, vice president of planning and development, said 90 percent of the contract price will be funded by the state, while 10 percent will be paid for by the airport authority.
"Everything we are doing now, we are planning for the future," he said. "This is a very high priority and very important project."
Officials said the renovated area will contain about 45,000 square feet of space for a police interrogation room, a conference area and offices. There also will be about 15,000 square feet of maintenance space.
The project should be completed in March and is tied into a plan to upgrade the terminal access security system, officials said.
Michael J. Landguth, president and chief executive, said nine companies submitted very competitive bids.
Deal for nearly $500,000 part of a plan to improve Lovell Field terminal security.
The lowest bid was the $488,500 winning submission, while the highest bid was $544,657, he said.