Both state Senate incumbent Chip Rogers and his opponent Brandon Beach released statements concerning the July 19 announcement from Gov. Nathan Deal about the plan to close the Ga. 400 toll by the end of 2013.

Beach, who is a Georgia Department of Transportation board member and president and CEO of the Greater North Fulton Chamber of Commerce, said the announcement was good news to those who travel through Atlanta on a daily basis.

“I praise the governor’s bold decision, and I’m proud of the close involvement the Georgia Department of Transportation played in bringing the toll to an end,” he said. “I can appreciate Georgia tax payers’ doubt in many of our elected officials, but the governor’s office and GDOT stood firm in their commitment to relieving this tax for millions of travelers each year.”

Rogers also applauded the governor’s announcement but had a different view of GDOT’s involvement.

“Unfortunately the governor had to take action to correct the failure of the Georgia Department of Transportation Board, which voted in 2010 to keep collecting the tolls even after the original bonds had been paid in full,” he said. “The failure of the DOT board seriously eroded the trust we have in our government. Today, Gov. Deal is taking positive steps toward restoring our trust.”

The primary election will be held July 31.