Pope opens new, improved gate Published Aug. 17, 2006 By Senior Airman Cassandra Locke 43rd Airlift Wing Public Affairs POPE AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. -- Pope's Manchester Gate is now open to all traffic after being under construction for more than a year. The gate was torn apart and rebuilt to help provide more security and lessen morning traffic. Manchester Gate now has Cat Claws and other pop-up mechanisms to enhance security. These are tested every day during non-peak hours. Drivers need to be careful when driving in and out of the gate. "The pop-up barriers are rated and certified to stop a 15,000 pound vehicle traveling at 50 miles an hour dead in its tracks," said Tech. Sgt. Robert Braziel, 43rd Security Forces Squadron. Also if any of the traffic lights located on the sides of the roadway are red, then the driver must stop, according to Sergeant Braziel.