Breaking: Major Accident on Keiji Bypass – Road Closures Lifted, Updates on Gusto and Gas Stations

Things got a little chaotic on the Keiji Bypass this morning. Right around the start of rush hour, there was a crash involving a large truck and a passenger car. The scene was somewhere between Kumiyama and Kusatsu. I got a text from a friend saying, "It's completely jammed right now," and I thought for sure we were in for a day-long traffic nightmare.

Major Road Closures Immediately After the Accident

It looks like the northbound lanes from the Kyoto-Minami IC to the Kusatsu-Tanakami IC were completely shut down for a while for investigation. The accident must have been pretty serious—apparently, a helicopter was even circling overhead. But by the afternoon, the scene was cleared and the road closures were lifted. Thanks to the police and fire department working fast to get things cleaned up, the disruption didn't drag on into the evening. That was a small mercy, at least.

Still, that stretch sees a ton of traffic even on a normal weekday, so congestion lingered for a while even after the closures ended. As usual, things were especially backed up around Gusto Keiji Bypass. With the accident on top of it all, I heard the line of cars stretched way further back than usual.

How Did the Local "Fueling Hubs" Hold Up?

In situations like this, what's really on a driver's mind is running out of gas or finding a place to make a pit stop. If you're a regular on the Keiji Bypass, these are the spots you need to know about.

• apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS (Nishinippon Usami): Located on the left side heading toward Kusatsu. For northbound drivers, timing your entry is key, but this spot offers both gas and car washes, so it's a favorite among locals and a destination for many who get on the expressway just to use it.
• ENEOS EneJet Self-Service Keiji Bypass (Ito Yusuke Co., Ltd.): On the opposite side for southbound traffic, this is a 24-hour self-service station. It seems a bunch of drivers who were stuck in the accident traffic made their way here, causing quite a crowd in the morning, but things have settled down to normal now.

You often just drive past these two, but they're a lifeline when you need them. On a day when unexpected trouble strikes, having apollostation and ENEOS along that stretch is a real comfort.

How Was Gusto, the Driver's Go-To Rest Stop?

And then there's Gusto Keiji Bypass, pretty much the only rest spot in the area. During the road closure, it seems quite a few drivers pulled over here to wait out the delay. Someone who passed by said the parking lot was nearly full in the morning, with lines stretching outside. It's probably calmed down by now in the evening, but I bet a lot of people were settling in for a long stay at the drink bar today.

The Keiji Bypass doesn't have a lot of good alternate routes. So when an accident happens, the whole area can grind to a halt. I heard that today, nearby Route 1 and the prefectural roads were jammed from morning with cars trying to bypass the highway. For residents around there, it must have been a real hassle.

Latest Traffic Info & Outlook

From what I've heard from sources, the vehicles involved in the accident have been removed. There aren't any special restrictions in place at the various Keiji Bypass interchanges either. However, I've also heard that there's still work to be done, like road surface inspections and finishing up the investigation. So if you're driving through tonight, it's a good idea to slow down around Gusto and the merging points at the interchanges, and keep a close eye on the traffic around you.

Also, gas stations tend to get slammed on days like this. Both apollostation Keiji Bypass Kusatsu SS and ENEOS EneJet will likely be busy this evening as people fill up after work. If you're not in a rush, it's probably smarter to wait until early tomorrow morning or late tonight to avoid the crowds.

A big thank you to the police, fire department, and highway crews who were on-site today dealing with this. I just hope everyone involved in the accident wasn't too seriously hurt.