ATLANTA - Governor Nathan Deal accepted the last 50-cent toll on Georgia 400 just after 11 a.m. Friday, several hours before the tolls had been set to end.
Deal held a brief ceremony bringing to an official end the 20-year toll collection on the highway.
"We're gonna let them keep their 50-cents from this point forward," Deal said to TV crews who had gathered at the toll plaza.
State officials predict Georgia 400 could see a traffic increase of up to 18 percent with the elimination of the tolls. The toll plaza opened 20 years ago and state officials say it has collected $300 million in toll revenue and $11 million in fines.
Demolition of the toll plaza is scheduled to begin in January. The demolition project is expected to cost $4.5 million and be completed by the fall of 2014.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.