The Missouri Department of Transportation will delay awarding a contract to build the new Mississippi River bridge until it determines whether minority contractors are being fully utilized in the St. Louis region, the department announced today.

The delay comes after minority contractors raised concerns this summer that the state hasn’t been involving them in projects to the same level as it has women contractors, both of whom are considered disadvantaged businesses. MoDOT is studying whether women and minority contractors are being used to their fullest potential. If the study shows that they are not, the state plans to ask the federal government for permission to have separate hiring goals for both groups in the $640 million bridge project.

As a result, the department plans to award a contract to build the bridge in December, rather than November. This could delay the construction start date of early 2010, but the goal of finishing work in November, 2013 will remain, said Greg Horn, project manager.

Whether the department will apply to the Federal Highway Administration for a waiver, requesting the dual goals will depend on the study. “It’s all going to be based on the data,” Horn said.  

The delay also will allow the Illinois Department of Transportation to tie up some land acquisition issues on its side of the river.