The Ohio Dept. of Transportation’s plan to award Columbus-based Strategic Public Partners a $1.9M PR pact to educate the public about road projects is now on hold, according to a report in the Columbus Dispatch.

The state’s Controlling Board approved DOT’s request for $83M in various contracts for research, planning, design and inspections, but nixed the PR component after a Buckeye State senator flagged the contract.

Chris Widener, who represents Springfield, demanded that PR be excluded from the overall package.

Steve Faulkner, spokesperson for DOT, said communications work has generally been included in past overall contract.

He told the paper there’s a “need to reach out and let people know what’s going on.”

DOT, according to Faulkner, is determined to work with Widener so he is “comfortable with the vision going forward.”

SPP deferred comment on the situation to Faulkner.