San Antonio’s freeways close as freezing rain picks up, city officials say

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SAINT ANTHONY – Update:

The San Antonio County Office of Emergency Management – Bexar announced Sunday afternoon that all major roads in San Antonio and other roads will be closed due to inclement weather.

Closures began at 3 p.m., Sunday, and officials issued a public safety alert to warn residents of the closures, which are detailed below.

All the main SA motorways:

  • North and south boundary lanes of 281 from loop 410 to 1604

  • Lanes linked east and west of IH 10 from loop 410 to 1604

  • Lanes linked east and west of loop 1604 from 281 to IH 10

  • Highway 151 between loop 410 and 1604

  • 1604 East and West from IH10 to 281

  • US 281 north and south between St Mary’s and Basse Rd

  • US 281 to IH 35

  • Wurzbach Parkway

  • Loop 1604 between 281 and I-35 North

Loop 1604 Overpasses / overpasses

  • Loop 1604 West & Hwy 90 W

  • Loop 1604 West & Hwy 151

  • Loops 1604 West and IH 10 West

  • Loop 1604 East and US 281 North

Upper steps / high steps of the loop 410

  • NW Loop 410 and Hwy 151

  • NW Loop 410 and IH 10 West

  • NW Loop 410 and US 281

  • NE Loop 410 and US 281

  • Loop SE 410 and IH 37 south

Downtown Loop: upper levels and ramps

  • Upper level of IH 10 entering the center of the west

  • Upper level of IH 35 north and south

  • Center loop

For more information on road closures, click here.

Original:

San Antonio Police Chief William McManus said police want to be proactive in closing roads on Sunday evening to prevent clashes from accumulating, as icy rain is expected throughout Sunday afternoon and in the evening.

McManus held a briefing on road conditions in San Antonio, saying he had “no good news” to share about the expected freezing temperatures.

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“(The conditions) are already really bad,” McManus said.

Although McManus said the plan to close sections of the highway “was not final,” he said his discussions with city officials and TxDOT have centered around that plan.

“We don’t want the safety barometer you have here … it depends on how many people start to crash,” McManus said. “We want to close roads, highways or at least a part of them before it starts.”

The police chief reinforced what other public officials have been telling residents in the middle of this time: Do not drive unless it is an emergency. The department has already received more than 800 calls for traffic incidents, McManus said, and the offices have been flooded.

Closures will begin on the north side and continue south as time goes on, McManus said.

Freezing temperatures have caused the closure of virtually all interchanges and overpasses of highways. Conditions may worsen with more rain and even snow projected this afternoon.

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Check current road conditions, closures in the San Antonio area

Earlier Sunday, San Antonio police officer Travis Gossett was hospitalized in critical condition after a car hit him while working on an accident on Highway 281 and Brook Hollow.

“I don’t want to predict what the forecast will be, but it’s not doing well,” McManus said. “The end point here is that we have to stay off the roads to stay safe.”

Police believe the icy conditions, combined with the failure of speed control, led to the tragic incident.

As always, the Your Weather Authority team will keep you up to date. You can get the latest forecast at any time by marking our weather page and downloading the KSAT Weather Authority app, available for both Apple and Android devices.

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