They were dressed in black, mourning their last day on a job they have enjoyed since the Route K toll Road opened in 2003.

On closer inspection, the toll booth was decorated in un-smiley faces, but the banter with the customers was flowing fast and free as usual.

The Route K staff will be out of a job come midnight tonight. Photos: Andrew Campbell.

For Irene Stumpp and Lyn Burnside, Thursday marked their final shift on the job they had held down for the past 12 years.

For Irene, Lyn and fourteen other toll booth operators, the job disappears at midnight tonight.

'It's all a bit sad,” admits Irene. 'It's been a perfect job. I love coming to work every day.

'It's one of the best jobs you could have if you love people,” adds Lyn. 'Leaving the job is a bit like a death.”

The loss of 16 jobs is the unadvertised side-effect of the city council's sale of the toll road to NZTA, which will now collect its fees via a gantry that reads number plates.

Since Route K opened, the toll booths have been manned and womanned 24-hours a day, seven days a week, with operators becoming an integral part of the lives of the tens of thousands of commuters who regularly use the route.

'We would just like to thank the customers,” says operations manager Todd Hitchcock.

Unlike the others, he gets to keep his job – for now. He's expecting to remain for a month or so to tidy up the paperwork on the council toll accounts. After that, his future is uncertain.

'We have just been blown away by the support from people,” says Todd.

'It has been amazing. We want to thank everyone for their support.”

Route K staff say their goodbyes in their own special way.

That support is demonstrated by the bags full of gifts being showered on the operators this week, including chocolates, cakes and an endless supply of biscuits.

After the last toll is collected at midnight tonight, they are planning a quiet farewell, says Todd.

He's expecting the barrier arms to be removed initially, before work begins on dismantling the toll booths.

Regular customer Charyse Litolff says the toll booth operators have been part of her family's life for seven years now, and she is going to miss the human touch.

'We've been part of their comings and goings for seven years or so,” says Charyse.

'It's a shame that the personal touch is disappearing from the job.

'They went the extra mile, decorating the booths at Christmas, putting things up for big rugby games – all that sort of stuff.

'And I chatted with the ladies with their fluoro earrings, because they mixed and matched with their uniform!

'It's quite sad for them.”

Charyse is also a contributor to the chocolate mountain currently accumulating at the toll booths this week.

'When our children were smaller the family toll bill was up to $120 a month,” she adds.

The un-smiley faces on the booths today.