A committee has recommended that the state highway department stop hiring the contractor and designer of a 6-year-old bridge over a northwestern Indiana highway that has been closed because of safety concerns.

The Post-Tribune reported that the transportation department committee recommended Monday that Gary-based Superior Construction Co. and Indianapolis-based bridge designer RQAW Corp. be suspended from state contracts until they submit quality-assurance reports for future projects that the state's bridge team approve. The committee is responsible for vetting contactors that do state highway projects.

Superior vice president Ted Cuson told The Times it will wait until the state highway commissioner decides on the recommendation before deciding how to proceed.

The highway department has estimated it will cost $2.5 million to replace the damaged bridge in Gary over Interstate 80/94.