By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The threatened shut down of Interstate 64 in East St. Louis is still on hold.
The Metro East Black Contractors Organization met with Illinois Department of Transportation Secretary Tim Martin to voice its concerns about the low percentage of African-Americans working on Metro East road projects.
While the two sides failed to reach a resolution, each says they're making good progress.
"I think IDOT's commitment is to do something," I-DOT Secretary Tim Martin said. "Rather than study things, we want to get things going on the ground, and if it's not right, adjust rather than try and develop the recipe for the perfect cake, and people are starving."
I-DOT says it is complying with federal law in hiring Disadvantaged Business Enterprises, which include racial minorities and women. The agency and the contractors will meet again next week.