
Commuters in Austin and San Antonio faced a gauntlet of gridlock this morning after multiple vehicle accidents wreaked havoc on major highways, causing extensive traffic delays. In south Austin, first responders scrambled to clear the remnants of a four-car pileup on I-35 northbound that clogged the left lane near Stassney Ln. As reported by CBS Austin, the incident occurred just after 6 a.m. and officials warned of substantial backups as the rush hour approached.
Meanwhile, San Antonio's traffic situation was no better, with Loop 410 turning into a virtual parking lot. A series of wrecks were reported at the intersections with Fredericksburg, Babcock, and Callaghan roads, according to MySanAntonio. The right three lanes of westbound Loop 410 were shut down after a crash at Babcock Road, and SigAlert indicated a considerable distance of backed-up vehicles resulting from the collisions.
#ATXtraffic Officers onscene of 4 veh crash in the 5500 blk S IH 35 NB. Left lane blocked. Expect delays, plan your route. WC2
— Austin Police Department (@Austin_Police) March 19, 2024
For San Antonio drivers trying to exit the downtown area, alternative routes had to be considered. Traffic monitoring sites suggested taking a detour before North Main Avenue on I-35, using back streets to navigate around the gridlock. The upper level of I-35 showed traffic at a near standstill, stretched from McCullough Avenue to North Main Avenue following another wreck that took place around 7 a.m.
Emergency personnel were promptly at both scenes, yet there was no immediate word on when the accidents would be fully cleared. The cascade of collisions serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictability of morning commutes and the domino effect a single incident can have on an entire city's traffic flow. For those caught in the snarl, patience was more than a virtue; it was a necessity for navigating the congested roadways.









