Breaking: Major Accident on Keiji Bypass Causes Temporary Closure, Now Cleared. Check the Status of Gusto and Nearby Gas Stations!

There was quite a bit of a commotion on the Keiji Bypass this morning. Right around the start of the morning rush, there seems to have been an accident involving a large truck and a passenger car. The scene was on the stretch from Kuyama to Kusatsu. A contact of mine messaged saying, "It's completely jammed up right now," and I thought for sure this would lead to traffic congestion lasting all day.

Massive road closures for a while after the accident

For the investigation, the northbound lane from Kyoto-Minami IC to Kusatsu-Tanoue IC was completely closed for some time. The accident must have been quite serious; I heard a helicopter was also flying overhead to capture footage. However, it seems the scene was cleared by the afternoon and the road closures were lifted. Thanks to the police and fire department working quickly to clear the scene, it's a blessing that the disruptions didn't drag on until the evening.

But, that area sees a massive amount of traffic even on a regular weekday, so the residual congestion lasted for a while even after the closures were lifted. The flow usually gets heavy around the Gusto Keiji Bypass Store, and today, with the accident, the line of cars reportedly stretched even further back from there.

Are the "Fuel Fortresses" near the scene holding up?

In times like this, what drivers worry about is running out of fuel or finding a place to take a break or use the restroom. If you're a regular on the Keiji Bypass, these are key spots to keep in mind.

• apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS (Nishinippon Usami): Located on the left side heading towards Kusatsu, so using it from the northbound lane requires a bit of timing, but it offers both refueling and car wash services. Naturally popular with locals, many people also get on the bypass specifically to stop here.
• ENEOS EneJet Self-Service Station Keiji Bypass (Ito Yusuke Co., Ltd.): Situated on the southbound lane on the opposite side, this one is a 24-hour self-service station. It seems vehicles that were held up by the accident diverted here, causing quite a bit of crowding in the morning, but now things are back to normal.

We often just pass by these two stations, but in a pinch, they're a real lifeline. When unexpected trouble like today happens, it's a huge relief knowing apollostation and ENEOS are located on that stretch.

How was Gusto, the driver's rest spot?

Then there's Gusto Keiji Bypass Store, practically the only rest stop in that area. Apparently, quite a few drivers spent time there while the road was closed due to the accident. According to someone who passed by the store, the parking lot was almost full in the morning, and a queue was forming outside. Things seemed to have calmed down by evening, but I bet there were a lot of people making good use of the drink bar today.

The Keiji Bypass has limited alternative routes or "detours," so when an accident occurs, the entire area can quickly grind to a halt. I heard that nearby National Route 1 and the prefectural roads were also heavily congested from early morning with cars diverted from the bypass. For residents living in that area, today must have been incredibly frustrating.

Latest Traffic Information and Outlook

According to information from sources involved, the removal of the accident vehicles is complete. No particular restrictions are currently in place at the Keiji Bypass interchanges either. However, I've also heard that road surface inspections and some fine details of the investigation are still to be done. So, for those passing through later tonight, it's probably best to be cautious, reduce speed around the Gusto area and the merging sections of the interchanges, and stay aware of your surroundings.

Also, on days like this, gas stations tend to get extremely crowded. Both apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS and ENEOS EneJet are likely to be busy tonight coinciding with the evening refueling rush. If you have the time, going early tomorrow morning or later at night would be a smart move.

A big thank you to the police, fire department, and highway company personnel who responded to the scene today. My hope is that those involved in the accident suffered only minor injuries.