Breaking: Major Accident on Keiji Bypass Causes Temporary Closure, Now Reopened. What's the Situation at Gusto and Gas Stations?
Things were a bit of a mess on the Keiji Bypass this morning. Right around the start of the morning rush hour, there was an accident involving a large truck and a passenger car. The scene was on the stretch from near Kugayama to Kusatsu. I got a message from someone saying, "It's completely stopped right now," and I thought for sure it would lead to a day-long traffic jam.
Major road closure following the accident
For the investigation, the northbound lanes from the Kyoto Minami IC to the Kusatsu Tanakami IC were fully closed for a while. The accident must have been pretty serious; I heard there was even a helicopter overhead filming. But it seems the scene was cleared up by the afternoon and the closure was lifted. Thanks to the police and fire crews working quickly, the disruption didn't drag on into the evening—a small mercy, I suppose.
That said, traffic in that area is always heavy on weekdays, so congestion lingered even after the closure was lifted. The flow always tends to get sluggish around Gusto Keiji Bypass, and with today's accident, the backup extended much further back than usual.
How are the nearby fuel stops holding up?
Times like this make you worry about running out of gas or finding a spot for a bathroom break—the essential "pit stops" for any driver. If you're a regular on the Keiji Bypass, you'll want to keep these in mind.
- apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS (Nishinippon Usami): It's on the left if you're heading towards Kusatsu, so using it from the northbound lanes requires a bit of timing, but they offer both fuel and car wash services. It's popular with locals, and a lot of drivers will specifically get on the bypass just to use it.
- ENEOS EneJet Self-Service Station Keiji Bypass (Ito Yusaku Co., Ltd.): This one is on the opposite side, in the southbound lanes. It's a self-service station open 24 hours. I heard it got pretty busy this morning with cars diverted due to the accident, but things seem to be back to normal now.
We often just pass these two by, but they're a real lifeline when you need them. Having apollostation and ENEOS in that section is a huge comfort when unexpected trouble like today hits.
What about the Gusto, a driver's oasis?
And then there's Gusto Keiji Bypass, pretty much the only rest stop in that area. Apparently, quite a few drivers waited out the road closure there. Someone who passed by said the parking lot was nearly full in the morning, with lines extending outside. Things calmed down by the evening, but I bet a lot of people were lingering over the drink bar today.
The thing about the Keiji Bypass is that there are very few alternative routes or "back ways." So when an accident happens, the entire area can grind to a halt. I heard nearby Route 1 and the prefectural roads were jammed all morning with cars trying to bypass the closure. For people living in that area, it must have been a major inconvenience.
Latest traffic info and what to expect
From what I've gathered from sources, the accident vehicles have been removed. There are no special restrictions currently in place at the various Keiji Bypass interchanges. However, I've also heard they'll be conducting surface checks and finishing up some final details of the investigation. If you're driving through tonight, it's still a good idea to slow down around Gusto and the interchange merging sections, and stay alert to what's happening around you.
Also, on days like this, gas stations can get slammed. Both apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS and ENEOS EneJet will likely be busy this evening as the post-work refueling rush kicks in. If your schedule allows, it's probably smarter to go early tomorrow morning or later tonight.
A big thank you to the police, fire crews, and highway operators who handled the scene today. I just hope anyone involved in the accident wasn't seriously hurt.