Major Crashes and Construction Bottlenecks Disrupting Thursday Morning Commutes

Traffic Alert: Major Morning Collisions

San Antonio commuters are facing significant travel disruptions this Thursday morning, January 22, 2026, following two major accidents that have closed key transit points. Local authorities are urging drivers to exercise extreme caution and seek alternative paths to avoid heavy congestion.

A deadly collision involving an 18-wheeler and a sport utility vehicle was reported at approximately 6:30 a.m. on the city’s Northeast Side. The accident has forced a total closure of Wetmore Road between the Northeast Loop 410 frontage road and Broadway Street, near the San Antonio International Airport. Emergency crews remain on-site, and the area is expected to stay closed through the mid-morning hours as investigators work the scene.

Additionally, a major crash occurred just before 6 a.m. at the busy downtown interchange of US 281 and I-35. The southbound exit ramp from Highway 281 to I-35 near The Pearl is currently closed to all traffic. While the main lanes of Highway 281 remain open, the ramp closure is causing significant backups for drivers attempting to transition toward the downtown core.

Highway Expansion and Construction Zones

Beyond the morning's incidents, long-term construction projects continue to impact traffic flow across the metro area. The Loop 1604 North Expansion project is seeing heavy activity as Segment 3, which stretches from I-10 to US 281, nears its 92% completion mark. Drivers should expect narrow lanes and sudden shifts in traffic patterns near the Bitters Road and Blanco Road intersections.

On the Northeast Side, the I-35 Northeast Expansion (NEX) project is causing its usual weekday bottlenecks. Construction of the elevated lanes is particularly active between Loop 410 and FM 3009. Commuters inbound from Schertz and Selma are seeing 15-to-20-minute delays during peak hours. Furthermore, work has officially begun on the US 90 reconstruction project between I-410 and Loop 1604, leading to new lane restrictions for West Side travelers.

VIA Metropolitan Transit Updates

VIA Metropolitan Transit reports that service is mostly stable following the significant "Better Bus Plan" upgrades implemented earlier this month. However, a few construction-related detours are in effect:

• Route 5 (McCullough): Currently on detour near North Star Mall; service is bypassed between Rector and the Loop 410 access road.
• Route 7 (Stone Oak Express): Ongoing detours are reported near the Broadway and McCullough intersection due to localized utility work.
• Route 17 (I-35 Express): Commuters can benefit from the newly increased 15-minute frequency during peak morning hours, providing a reliable alternative for those avoiding the I-35 NEX construction zones.

Commuter Advice and Alternate Routes

For those traveling toward the airport, avoid Wetmore Road by utilizing Starcrest Drive or Jones Maltsberger Road. Drivers impacted by the US 281 closure should consider exiting at Mulberry Avenue and using surface streets to reach the downtown area. As temperatures are forecasted to drop toward the weekend, TxDOT crews may also be seen pretreating some overpasses today, so please remain vigilant for slow-moving maintenance vehicles.