San Antonio commuters faced a treacherous drive Monday morning as icy conditions led to a spate of accidents across the city's highways. An arctic blast swept through the region overnight, leaving roads slick and dangerous.
As of 8 a.m., a flurry of collisions had occurred on major thoroughfares, including the southbound lanes of Interstate 35 at U.S. Highway 90 and west lanes of Interstate 10 at Probandt, FOX San Antonio reports. Other affected areas were Interstate 37's junction with Interstate 10 to the north and Loop 410 at Sinclair Road to the south. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) is warning residents to avoid traveling unless absolutely necessary.
The icy glaze wasn't limited to major arteries. Elevated roadways such as bridges and overpasses turned into hotspots for vehicle crashes, especially in north San Antonio and Bexar County. Traffic cameras caught multiple incidents, including on Interstate 10 at Cesar Chavez near the Alamodome, according to KSAT. Reports indicated that the highway on the city's east side near 410 and another near I-35 and Southcross had to be shut down due to the severity of the crashes.
Additional reports surfaced early Monday of a crash near Interstate 10 and Ralph Fair Road, and of vehicles struggling on icy patches along US 281 in the Bulverde and Spring Branch areas. KSAT advised that even as the Texas Department of Transportation continues treating the roads, locals should avoid bridges and overpasses if possible, and to exercise caution throughout what remains a precarious situation.
As the city grapples with the icy onslaught, meteorologists assure that the Winter Storm Warning in effect will lift by noon, with conditions expected to improve into the afternoon.
