Montgomery judge closes hearing on I-270, Beltway toll lanes bid protest

A Montgomery County judge closed a hearing Tuesday concerning a bid protest over one of Maryland’s largest highway projects, after lawyers for the state and winning companies said opening the hearing to the media and public could disclose confidential information. The protest by a losing bidder concerns the first contract the state awarded last year in a project potentially worth billions of dollars to widen Interstate 270 and part of the Capital Beltway with toll lanes. Lawyers for both the Maryland Department of Transportation and the winning bidder, a team of companies led by Australian toll road operator Transurban, asked that the hearing be closed, and its transcript sealed to prevent the possibility of proprietary bid details being discussed publicly.