Charleston airport panel rejects contract appeal

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A panel of the Charleston County Aviation Authority has denied an appeal of the $150 million terminal redevelopment contract for Charleston International Airport.

The Post and Courier of Charleston reported (http://bit.ly/LAwhUG) that an attorney says the losing bidder hasn’t decided whether to appeal the decision Friday by a three-member panel.

The group of companies led by Holder Construction Co. of Atlanta appealed earlier this year when the contract was awarded to Austin Commercial LP of Dallas and local firm Hitt Contracting Inc. The Holder team said a former airport board member’s ties to the Austin-Hitt team tainted the process

The airport hopes to start the redevelopment of its 27-year-old terminal later this year and finish by 2014.

Improvements include six new gates and a third baggage carousel.

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Information from: The Post and Courier, http://www.postandcourier.com