Beposo tollgate finally collapses
The new set of tollbooths under construction at Beposo in the Western Region, but abandoned by the contractor, finally collapsed Tuesday, halting the movement of vehicles on the Takoradi-Cape-Coast highway for more than four hours.
This was after the overhead metal beams supporting the roof caved in, at the time workers of a new construction firm which has just started work on the booth, were busy at the site.
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When the Daily Graphic got to the scene, the collapsed overhead structure had blocked either side of the road, making it difficult for bigger vehicles to cross to and from Takoradi.
Smaller vehicles
However, some smaller vehicles, such as saloon cars, were able to squeeze through the sides of the collapsed structure.
As of the time of going to press, police and other rescue organisations were yet to arrive at the scene to help manage the bad traffic situation.
The Daily Graphic in its April 16, 2018 edition warned the public about the danger posed by the structure which had been abandoned for almost a decade.
The report also carried threats issued by motorists and residents near the tollbooth at Beposo Nkran in the Shama District in the Western Region to block the international highway if nothing was done about the abandoned tollbooth project.
The report warned that the now collapsed overhead roofing of the uncompleted tollbooth had become a threat to road users, as the metal structure holding the roof wobbled during storms, showing signs of imminent collapse.
New booth
The construction of a new tollgate became necessary after three persons, including a toll attendant, died at the spot in 2010 when an articulated truck ran into the old tollbooth, situated just after the Beposo Bridge.
Following the reportage, a new contractor was asked to move to the site but was yet to complete the project.
Daily Graphic visit
When the Daily Graphic visited the facility last month and sounded the warning, the contractor had finished the construction of some of the cages for toll collection and was partly roofed.
However, due to poor illumination, first-time users of the road run into some of the structures, resulting in the collapse of some of the booths, with some of the steel rods in the concrete structure exposed to the weather.
Members of the community said, the movement of vehicles in the afternoon often sent clouds of dust into the community and nearby farms, posing great nuisance to them.
