ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - State officials say a former chairman of new Mexico's transportation commission apparently sent confidential documents to a company bidding on a major road project.

The state Department of Transportation tells the Albuquerque Journal that Johnny Cope apparently sent the documents to FNF Construction in 2009. The firm had been the second-lowest bidder in the competition for a $38 million job to reconstruct 18 miles of Interstate 10 south of Las Cruces.

NMDOT attempted to award the contract to FNF in 2009 after rejecting the low bidder. But federal officials refused to go along with that decision.

NMDOT spokeswoman Manon Arnett told the Journal by email that the agency is "troubled and concerned" after learning of Cope's apparent actions.

Cope did not returns calls and emails seeking comment from the Journal.

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Information from: Albuquerque Journal, http://www.abqjournal.com

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