ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — A tollbooth in Orange County will be torn down once all debts are paid off, but at the rate it's going, it could be another 50 years before the toll plaza is gone.
The toll at Goldenrod Road and State Road 528 was built 12 years ago. Since 2003, drivers have been paying 50 cents at the toll plaza to get on and off the Beachline, but it'll be another 50 years before the debt is paid, if things continue at the pace they're going, officials said.
The toll was put up to pay off the cost of extending Goldenrod Road from Narcoossee to the Beachline. The idea was to build the road and then have the toll pay off the cost of the $44 million project.
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Channel 9 learned the toll has only collected $8 million in the last 12 years, partly because drivers have realized there are other ways around that are free.
The Expressway Authority said part of the blame is the overall costs to operate the toll and projected low traffic usage.
"I guess my grandkids will be happy, then," said one driver sarcastically.
Once all the debts are paid off and the road becomes free to drivers, the city of Orlando will then take ownership of it.