Breaking News: Major Accident on Keiji Bypass – Traffic Resumes After Temporary Closure. How's the Gusto and Petrol Stations?
Things got a little chaotic on the Keiji Bypass this morning. Just around the start of the morning rush hour, there was an accident involving a large truck and a passenger car. The incident occurred somewhere between the Kuyama and Kusatsu sections. I got a message from a friend saying, "It's completely jammed up now," and I thought to myself, this is going to be a full-day traffic jam.
Massive road closure implemented temporarily after the accident
It seems the inbound lane from the Kyoto Minami IC to the Kusatsu Agami IC was fully closed for a while to allow for an investigation. The scale of the accident must have been pretty big; I heard there was even a helicopter overhead capturing footage. But it looks like the scene was cleared up by the afternoon and the closure was lifted. Thanks to the police and fire department's quick work, it's a relief that the disruption didn't drag on into the night.
But even on a normal weekday, that area sees a ton of traffic, so congestion lingered for a while even after the road reopened. Traffic tends to slow down around the Gusto Keiji Bypass area as a rule. With the accident today, I heard the line of cars stretched way further back than usual.
How are the "fueling strongholds" near the site holding up?
On days like this, drivers worry about running out of fuel or finding a "refuge" when nature calls. If you're a regular on the Keiji Bypass, these are the spots you want to keep in mind.
- apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS (West Japan Usami): It's on the left side when heading towards Kusatsu, so it takes a bit of timing to use it on the inbound lane. They offer refueling and car washes, so it's a popular spot not just for locals but for those who specifically get on the expressway to use it.
- ENEOS EneJet Self-Service Station Keiji Bypass (Ito Yu Co. Ltd.): Located on the opposite side, on the outbound lane, this is a 24-hour self-service station. It seems cars that were stuck due to the accident diverted here, causing quite a crowd this morning, but operations are back to normal now.
Usually, you just drive past these two, but they're a real lifeline when things go wrong. Having apollostation and ENEOS in that section is a huge comfort when unexpected trouble like today happens.
How did Gusto, a driver's rest haven, fare?
And then there's Gusto Keiji Bypass, pretty much the only rest spot in that area. It seems quite a few drivers killed time here while the road was closed. According to someone who passed by the front of the restaurant, the car park was nearly full in the morning, with queues forming outside. Things have likely settled down by evening, but I bet many people were making the most of the drink bar today.
The Keiji Bypass doesn't have many viable "back roads" or alternative routes, so when an accident happens, the whole area can grind to a halt in a flash. I heard that nearby National Route 1 and the prefectural roads were also jammed up from morning with cars diverting off the expressway. For residents in that area, it must have been a real headache.
Latest traffic info and what's ahead
According to sources, the removal of the accident vehicles is complete at this point. No particular restrictions are in place at the Keiji Bypass interchanges either. However, I've also heard that road surface inspections and finer details of the investigation are still to come. So, if you're driving through tonight, it's still best to slow down around the Gusto area and the merging points at the interchanges, and keep a good lookout.
Also, on days like this, petrol stations get packed. Expect both apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS and ENEOS EneJet to be busy tonight as they coincide with the evening refuelling rush. If you can, it'd be smarter to go early tomorrow morning or late at night.
A big thank you to the police, fire department, and expressway company staff who were on the scene today. I just hope anyone involved in the accident wasn't too seriously hurt.