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Interstate 45

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This article is about the Interstate Highway in Texas. For the loop in Austin, Texas, see Texas State Highway 45.
"I-45" redirects here. For for the Imperial Japanese Navy submarine, see Japanese submarine I-45.

Interstate 45 marker
Interstate 45
Map
I-45 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by TxDOT
Length284.91 mi[1] (458.52 km)
Existed1971–present
NHSEntire route
Major junctions
South end SH 87 in Galveston
Major intersections
North end I-30 / I-345 / US 75 in Dallas
Location
CountryUnited States
StateTexas
CountiesGalveston, Harris, Montgomery, Walker, Madison, Leon, Freestone, Navarro, Ellis, Dallas
Highway system
← SH 44→ SH 45

Interstate 45 (I-45[a]) is a major Interstate Highway located entirely within the U.S. state of Texas. While most Interstate routes which have numbers ending in "5" are cross-country north–south routes, I-45 is comparatively short, with the entire route located in Texas. Additionally, it has the shortest length of all the interstates that end in a "5". It connects the cities of Dallas and Houston, continuing southeast from Houston to Galveston over the Galveston Causeway to the Gulf of Mexico.

I-45 replaced U.S. Highway 75 (US 75) over its entire length, although portions of US 75 remained parallel to I-45 until its elimination south of Downtown Dallas in 1987. At the south end of I-45, State Highway 87 (SH 87, formerly part of US 75) continues into downtown Galveston. The north end is at I-30 in Downtown Dallas, where US 75 used the Good-Latimer Expressway. A short continuation, known by traffic reporters as the I-45 overhead,[3] signed as part of US 75, and officially I-345, continues north to the merge with the current end of US 75. Traffic can use Spur 366 (better known locally as the Woodall Rodgers Freeway) to connect to I-35E at the north end of I-345.

The portion of I-45 between Downtown and Galveston is known to Houston residents as the Gulf Freeway. The short elevated section of I-45, which forms the southern boundary of Downtown, is known as the Pierce Elevated after the surface street next to which the freeway runs, while north of I-10 it is known as the North Freeway. I-45 and I-345 in the Dallas area, north of the interchanges with I-20 and SH 310 (old US 75), is the Julius Schepps Freeway. The Gulf Freeway and North Freeway both include reversible high-occupancy vehicle lane (HOV lanes) for busses and other HOVs to and from Downtown.

The freeway is the subject of ongoing controversy and federal investigation due to a proposed expansion project in Harris County, which would displace hundreds of people from their homes and worsen air quality.[4] The local authorities have opposed the expansion project, while the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) supports expansion, and negotiations are pending.[5][6] The project's estimated cost is at least $9.7 billion and is expected to take at least two decades to complete.[7][8]

Route description

In addition to the official control cities of Galveston, Houston, and Dallas,[9] I-45 serves a number of other communities, including La Marque, League City, Spring, The Woodlands, Conroe, Willis, Huntsville, Madisonville, Centerville, Buffalo, Fairfield, Corsicana, and Ennis.

US 190 joins I-45 for 26 miles (42 km) from Huntsville to Madisonville. US 287 joins I-45 for 18 miles (29 km) from Corsicana to Ennis. US 287 signs are only posted (with I-45) from the northern end of Business I-45-F (Bus. I-45-F) in Corsicana to the Ellis County line.

Hurricane Rita evacuation from the Louetta Road (exit 68) overpass (2005)

I-45 gained notoriety during Hurricane Rita in 2005. Thousands of Houston area evacuees jammed the roadway trying to leave. As a result, the freeway became a parking lot. Gas stations ran dry and hundreds of people's cars simply ran empty, their occupants having to spend the night along the shoulder. Four-hour drives suddenly became 24-hour drives. Even though TxDOT started contraflow lane reversal at Farm to Market Road 1488 (FM 1488), it did not alleviate the traffic jam deep into the city, as that starting point was even north of The Woodlands, which is close to Conroe, the northern terminus of Greater Houston.

At just 284.91 miles (458.52 km), I-45 is the shortest of the primary Interstates (ending in 0 or 5) and the only primary Interstate to be entirely inside of one state.

Gulf Freeway

The stretch of I-45 connecting Galveston with Houston is known as the Gulf Freeway. It was the first freeway built in Texas—opened in stages beginning on October 1, 1948, up to a full completion to Galveston in 1952, as part of US 75. At the north (Houston) end, it connects to the North Freeway via the short Pierce Elevated, completed in 1967.[10] The section north of the curve near SH 3/Monroe Road in southeastern Houston was built on the right-of-way of the former Galveston–Houston Electric Railway, which entered downtown on Pierce Street.[11][12]

After several interchanges, I-45 crosses the Galveston Causeway and passes Tiki Island. Old US 75 south of this junction was upgraded on the spot.[13]

The Gulf Freeway generally parallels SH 3 (old US 75) about one mile (1.6 km) to the west, bypassing La Marque, Dickinson, and South Houston. It includes interchanges with several other freeways: FM 1764 (Emmett F. Lowry Expressway), State Highway NASA Road 1 (NASA Road 1), and the Sam Houston Tollway (Beltway 8), meeting the north end of SH 3 in southeastern Houston. (This part of SH 3—on Winkler Drive and Monroe Road—is not part of old US 75.) A center reversible HOV lane begins just south of the Sam Houston Tollway.

I-45 and I-10/US 90 next to Downtown

In Houston, I-45 meets I-610 and SH 35 at a complicated interchange.[14] At the merge with Spur 5, a short freeway spur to the University of Houston, elevated collector–distributor roads (also part of Spur 5) begin. The collector–distributor roads and the HOV lane end at Emancipation Avenue, the original end of the Gulf Freeway. Just past Emancipation Avenue is an interchange with I-69/US 59 (Eastex and Southwest freeways) and SH 288 (South Freeway), after which I-45 technically becomes the North Freeway as it runs along the northwest half of the block between Pierce Street and Gray Street as the Pierce Elevated.[15]

The reversible HOV lane begins in Downtown at the intersection of St. Joseph Parkway and Emancipation Avenue, with easy access inbound to St. Joseph Parkway and outbound from Pierce Street. It runs down the median of the Gulf Freeway, mostly at the same level as the mainlanes. Ramps are provided for access to and from the following roads:

  • Eastwood Transit Center (full access)
  • I-610 north frontage road (full access)
  • Monroe Road and Monroe Park & Ride (full access)
  • Fuqua Park & Ride and South Point Park & Ride (full access)
  • Frontage roads north of Dixie Farm Road (FM 1959) (toward Downtown, with a ramp stub for continuation)

North Freeway

The I-45 North Freeway HOV begins in downtown Houston near the University of Houston–Downtown, with easy access inbound on Milam Street and outbound on Travis Street. Ramps and entrances are provided for access from the following roads. All are fully accessible.

  • I-10/US 90 westbound exit and entrance only
  • Quitman Street
  • Airline Drive (to Crosstimbers Road)
  • North Shepherd (to North Shepherd Park & Ride)
  • FM 525 (Aldine-Bender Road)
  • Kuykendahl Park & Ride
  • FM 1960 (to Spring Park & Ride)

The HOV ends approximately one mile (1.6 km) north of the FM 1960 (Cypress Creek Parkway) exit and becomes a diamond white line at grade separated HOV north to just before exit 84 Loop 336 on the south side of Conroe. This provides constant HOV access with one lane on the northbound side and one lane on the southbound side with periodic dotted lines for access at major exits.

Julius Schepps Freeway

The stretch of I-45 along the Julius Schepps Freeway in Dallas, from the Trinity River to Downtown Dallas up to and including I-345, is elevated above the surrounding areas for most of its length. As such, when ice storms hit the Dallas area (usually on average one to two times per year), the freeway is shut down, and traffic is diverted to SH 310 and US 175, which parallel I-45.

History

In the initial assignment of state highways in 1917, the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex and Greater Houston were connected by a branch of SH 2 (Meridian Highway), which ran via Waco and Bryan and continued on to Galveston. The more direct route followed by I-45 was not initially part of the system between Richland and Huntsville;[16][17] this cutoff was added by 1919 as SH 32,[18] and US 75 was assigned to the alignment in 1926.[19] Prior to the coming of the Interstate Highway System in the late 1950s, the only improvements to US 75 in Texas beyond building a two-lane paved roadway were in the Houston and Dallas areas.[20] The highways in and near these cities, however, included some of the first freeways in the state: the Gulf Freeway (Houston) and the Central Expressway (Dallas).

Gulf Freeway (Houston to Galveston)

The Galveston–Houston Electric Railway began operating an interurban between those cities on December 5, 1911, and last ran on October 31, 1936, though the Houston Electric Company, operator of Houston's city transit system, continued to run trains on the portion between Downtown and Park Place. A proposal for a "superhighway" between the cities was first made in 1930, and Houston Mayor Oscar F. Holcombe began to work toward it later that decade. He announced an agreement with the Houston Electric Company on April 12, 1940, through which the company could convert its four remaining lines to busses in exchange for the right-of-way used by the Park Place line. This line was last used on June 9, 1940, the last day of streetcar service in Houston;[21] the replacement is still operated by the Houston Metro as the 40 along Telephone Road.

Before the new highway was built, US 75 followed Galveston Road (now mostly SH 3), Broadway Street, and Harrisburg Boulevard into Downtown. SH 225 carried traffic from La Porte along La Porte Road to US 75 in Harrisburg, and SH 35 connected Alvin with Downtown along Telephone Road and Leeland Street.[22] Plans made in October 1943, when the Texas Transportation Commission signed an agreement with Houston and Harris County, referred to the new bypass as a relocation of US 75. Drawings were released by the state on January 31, 1946, and included almost continuous frontage roads, broken only at railroad crossings.[21] Although the freeway ended at Live Oak Street, a so-called "four-street distribution system"[23] of four one-way streets, timed for 30 mph (48 km/h), carried traffic to Main Street.[24] Initially, the two southwestern streets—Pierce Street and Calhoun Avenue (now St. Joseph Parkway)—carried traffic toward the freeway, and the other two—Jefferson and Pease streets—carried exiting traffic;[25] once the freeway was completed far enough to allow US 75 to be marked along it, Pease and Pierce streets carried that highway to Fannin Street.[26]

The first freeway dedication in the state took place at 7:00 pm on September 30, 1948, at the overpass over Calhoun Road by the University of Houston. The roadway between Downtown and Telephone Road was opened to traffic after speeches but lacked an official name, being called the "Interurban Expressway", after the rail line that it replaced, by the press. Mayor Holcombe quickly started a contest to assign a name, and the city chose the winning entry on December 17, 1948. Sara Yancy of Houston Heights won $100 (equivalent to $1,268 in 2023[27]) for her submission of "Gulf Freeway", named for the Gulf of Mexico that the highway would reach when completed. The freeway was extended to Griggs Road in February 1951 and Reveille Street (onto which SH 35 was realigned) in July 1951 and was completed to the Galveston Causeway on August 2, 1952, with a ceremony on the bridge over FM 517 near Dickinson. However, beyond Reveille Street, the road was not built to freeway standards, with 32 at-grade intersections, though no traffic signals. The highway curved away from the old interurban right-of-way near Monroe Road, about where the Park Place streetcar line had ended. In December 1952, a short spur, now part of I-610, was opened to connect with SH 225.[28] A three-way split in the northwest part of Park Place, near where Gulfgate Shopping Center opened in 1956, carried nonstop traffic to and from SH 35 and SH 225.[21][29][30] This split was also the location of a lane drop; the roadway carried six lanes (three in each direction) between Houston and the interchange and four beyond to Galveston. After the new US 75 was completed, the old road between Downtown and South Houston was dropped from the state highway system, while the remainder became SH 3, connecting to the Gulf Freeway via Winkler Drive, effective August 20, 1952.[31]

The first major change was made in preparation for the North Freeway connection, when the directions of Calhoun Avenue and Jefferson Street were swapped so that they would alternate. A bridge, dated 1954, was built to carry traffic from Jefferson Street over traffic to Jefferson Street,[30] and US 75 was moved to Calhoun Avenue northbound,[32] soon crossing downtown on the one-way pair of Calhoun Avenue and Pierce Street to the new North Freeway.[33] A median barrier was added in 1956 to prevent crossover accidents. Southeast of Downtown, the at-grade intersections proved dangerous, and only two had been replaced with interchanges by 1959, when the Texas Highway Department began a program to upgrade the road to full freeway standards. Frontage roads would be required along the entire highway, since the state had not purchased access rights, and so abutting property owners were able to build driveways to the road. To accomplish this, traffic was shifted to the newly built frontage roads so that the central main lanes could be reconstructed. This grade separation was completed from Houston to Almeda-Genoa Road (exit 34) in June 1959, FM 1959 (exit 30) in October 1964, FM 518 (exit 23) in December 1970, and FM 1764 (exit 15) in 1976. As the section beyond FM 1764 into Galveston had already been rebuilt,[30][34] this marked the completion of the Gulf Freeway as an actual freeway.[21]

Looking northwest along the Gulf Freeway toward Downtown in 2006; the Spur 5 distributor lanes, completed in 1988, are to the right

As the first freeway in Texas, the standards of the Gulf Freeway soon became inadequate, with poor sight lines and little room to merge when entering. It also attracted development, such as Gulfgate Center, the first mall in the Houston area, the Manned Spacecraft Center, and many residential developments. Heavy congestion began to affect the freeway by the early 1960s; two roughly parallel freeways—the Harrisburg and Alvin freeways—were proposed at that time to relieve the traffic but were not built. A short project to widen the road to six lanes between I-610 and Sims Bayou was completed in 1960, and ramp meters were installed in 1966. The I-610 interchange was rebuilt with direct connections for most movements in 1975. Plans to reconstruct the freeway near Downtown began in 1972, taking about 170 houses and 22 businesses from the southwest side for the room to expand the main lanes and add parallel lanes for the Alvin Freeway. Local opposition was unsuccessful at stopping the project, and construction on this segment, and others to the southeast, took place in the 1980s. The lanes were shifted outward to make room for the transitway, which opened to I-610 on May 16, 1988. These lanes were inspired by the similar ones on the Henry G. Shirley Memorial Highway in the Washington metropolitan area.[35] That year also marked the end of the reconstruction inside I-610, along with the elevated distribution lanes alongside the mainlanes near Downtown; the first short piece of the Alvin Freeway was finally connected to these in 1999. This project gave I-45 its current configuration, mostly eight mainlanes wide, from Sims Bayou past I-610 to Griggs Road in 1981, to Telephone Road in 1982, to Lockwood Drive in 1985, and, finally, to Downtown in 1988.[21]

These projects, however, were not the end of construction on the Gulf Freeway. The highway beyond I-610 to FM 1959, which had just been upgraded in the 1950s and 1960s, saw an extension of the transitway to a temporary end near FM 1959, widening to eight lanes, and a large stack interchange at the Sam Houston Tollway. This reconstruction was completed between Almeda-Genoa Road and College Avenue in 1991, between College Avenue and Sims Bayou in 1994, and, finally in 1997, there was no construction anywhere on the entire length of the freeway when the tollway interchange was opened, along with the widening between Almeda-Genoa Road and FM 1959. A 1999 study recommended widening the entire stretch from the Sam Houston Tollway to Galveston to at least eight lanes. Construction to replace the Galveston Causeway began in mid-2003,[21] and work on a section through Webster, including a new interchange with NASA Road 1, began in mid-2007.[36]

Widening of the freeway between Kurland Drive at Bay Area Boulevard began in July 2011. This construction will expand the number of freeway lanes from six to ten and increase the number of frontage lanes from four to six. The HOV lane will be extended to the southern end of the construction. It will also involve rebuilding the overpasses at Dixie Farm Road and Clear Lake City Boulevard. (Dixie Farm Road bridge demolition has already been completed.)[37] According to TxDOT, the project is approximately 15 miles (24 km) in length, starting at Kurland and ending approximately one mile (1.6 km) south of Bay Area Boulevard.

The project has six phases. Phase one is the reconstruction of the mainlanes from the northern end of the project to just south of FM 1959. The end of this phase will include the demolition and reconstruction of the bridge at the FM 1959 intersection. Phase two, planned to begin in mid-2012, will be the reconstruction of the frontage roads from just south of FM 1959 to the southern end of the project. Phase three will be the reconstruction of the mainlanes on the southern half of the project and is planned to begin in mid-2013. Phase four, scheduled to start late 2014, will be the demolition and reconstruction of the overpass at Clear Lake City Boulevard. Phase five (which was completed) was the demolition and reconstruction of El Dorado and Bay Area boulevards. The demolition and reconstruction was finished in 2016. As a result, the 1960s-era cloverleaf interchanges (with the exception of Fuqua Street and Scarsdale Boulevard) have been eliminated with overpasses. Phase six will be making the new lanes of the freeway. It will have five lanes each direction along with the new overpasses for those two underpasses. This will be completed 2017.

In 2015, reconstruction and widening of I-45 began in Downtown due to heavy traffic. The southbound onramp from Allen Parkway will be moved to enter on the right side, and long-range plans call for the demolition of the outdated Pierce Elevated, with the reroute of I-45 being along I-69/US 59 and I-10/US 90 to the North Freeway. The parts of the Gulf Freeway at I-10 and I-45 will be known as the Downtown Connector. If I-45 was rerouted and the Pierce Elevated demolished (and/or redeveloped into the proposed Pierce SkyPark as part of additional greenspace), the connecting ramps south of Allen Parkway would become a second downtown spur, which will result in the demise of a full freeway loop around Downtown. As of 2018, there are no plans to place the Pierce Elevated in a tunnel similar to Spur 366 in Dallas since Greater Houston is prone to flooding, especially in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

North Freeway (Houston to Conroe)

Southbound on the North Freeway

The last alignment of US 75 before the North Freeway was built left Downtown to the northwest on Main Street, turning north at Airline Drive, and then northwest along the present alignment of I-45, then known as Stuebner Airline Road, Shepherd Drive, and East Montgomery Road.[32] The freeway replacement was authorized in stages between May 1945 and June 1952, when the Texas Transportation Commission adopted plans for a freeway all the way between Houston and Dallas. The North Freeway name was adopted in 1956; an unsuccessful proposal in 1965 would have renamed it the Dallas Freeway.[38] The first short piece of the freeway to open crossed Buffalo Bayou, connecting the two one-way pairs from the north end of the Gulf Freeway with the south end of Houston Avenue. This section was opened on December 12, 1955, and allowed US 75 to bypass its run on Main Street;[33] it included interchanges with Allen Parkway and Memorial Drive. The next piece near downtown opened on July 24, 1962, leaving the 1955 freeway in the Allen Parkway interchange, passing east of Houston Avenue, and connected to an already-built portion at I-610. The six-lane Pierce Elevated, which occupies half a block on the southwest side of Pierce Street, required the acquisition of a number of commercial properties; the cost prevented the full block from being used. This portion opened on August 18, 1967, connecting the Gulf and North Freeways and bypassing the "four-street distribution system", which remains in its original form to this day.[21][39]

The first piece of the North Freeway to be built outside I-610 was an upgrade of existing US 75 on Stuebner Airline Road, between Airline and Shepherd drives, opened in December 1959. In April 1961, this was completed to the interchange with I-610, and, on July 24, 1962, the Downtown section was extended north to meet it. As each section opened, US 75 was moved to it, temporarily using I-610 to Airline Drive for about a year.[40] At the other end, US 75 was upgraded from Spring Creek at the north edge of Spring north to the San Jacinto River south of Conroe in 1960.[41] In between, the upgrade was completed from FM 525 to near Richey Road in December 1961, south to the 1959 segment in February 1963, and north to the 1960 segment in March 1963, completing the North Freeway except for the Pierce Elevated (1967). The freeway as initially built had eight lanes (four in each direction) between Downtown and I-610, six to FM 1960, and four north of FM 1960.[21]

Southbound I-45 entering Downtown

Like the Gulf Freeway, the North Freeway soon became congested. The oil boom of the 1970s resulted in large-scale residential development along the highway, most notably The Woodlands. Since the corridor was strongly directional, with 65 percent of peak-hour traffic going in the peak direction, a 9.6-mile (15.4 km) contraflow lane for busses and other HOVs was implemented later that decade, opening on August 28, 1979, between Downtown and Shepherd Drive (exit 56B). The facility, operating during both rush-hour periods, occupied the leftmost lane of the other direction and was separated from the other lanes with a movable pylon every 40 feet (12 m). In 1980, the existing center breakdown lanes were restriped for HOV traffic for about two miles (3.2 km) from the north end of the contraflow lane. Off-peak traffic, however, was increasing, and construction began in 1983 on a more permanent reversible transitway in the median. Thus, the second transitway in Houston (a month after the one on the Katy Freeway), opened on November 23, 1984, replacing the contraflow lane.[21][35]

Reconstruction of the mainlanes and frontage roads to handle increased traffic began in 1982 just north of Downtown. No lanes were added south of I-610, but the eight-lane cross-section, with room for a transitway, was continued north as construction progressed. Work was completed south of Airline Drive (exit 53) in about 1985, to Shepherd Drive (exit 56B) in 1987, and to FM 525 (exit 60A) in 1990; this last opening allowed the transitway to extend to just south of FM 525. The Hardy Toll Road, completed on June 28, 1988, between I-610 and I-45 near The Woodlands, added capacity to that part of the corridor, and, in 1990, reconstruction was completed on a short piece of I-45 from the toll road into The Woodlands. Reconstruction continued from FM 525, reaching Airtex Boulevard (exit 63) in 1997, including part of the Sam Houston Tollway interchange (completed in 2003) and a transitway extension, Cypresswood Drive (exit 68) in 1998, extending the transit way to its present terminus, and the Hardy Toll Road (exit 72) in 2003. Work on the section through The Woodlands to Research Forest Drive (exit 77) was completed in 2001, including a direct connection to Woodlands Parkway, and, in 2003, work was completed to FM 1488 (exit 81).[21] Construction is now complete between FM 1488 to the Walker County line near milepost 100 just south of the northbound truck weigh station and New Waverly, near SH 75 (exit 98).[42]

As of 2015, widening of the North Freeway from Downtown to the Sam Houston Tollway began. The plan for the project is to widen the freeway by adding managed lanes and adding the North Shepherd on- and offramps also known as Spur 261 (which was already completed) prior to the I-45 widening project. This project has generated major controversy, with proponents claiming it would "enhance safety and mobility", while opponents point out that it would worsen air quality and greenhouse gas emissions, displace hundreds of people, and fail to meaningfully address congestion.[5]

Authorities in Harris County have sued TxDOT to stop the expansion, and the federal government has investigated the expansion project to determine whether it violates any civil rights or environmental laws.[4] Among others, the expansion is opposed by U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo.[43][44] If completed, the highway's width will double to 480 feet (150 m), wider than a football field. The highway expansion would displace around a thousand residents, including 919 units in 16 apartment complexes, 160 single-family homes, five places of worship, and two schools.[6] An apartment complex has been acquired and vacated by TxDOT, which plans to demolish it for the expansion. TxDOT was heavily criticized for this planned demolition, as the apartment complex slated for demolition has been described as an example of good urban planning. [45]

Parts of the freeway are paralleled by the METRORail Red Line.[46]

Between Conroe and Richland

The first part of I-45 between Conroe and Richland was the bypass around Huntsville.[41]

The final piece of I-45 between the cities opened on October 13, 1971, for 12 miles (19 km) between Fairfield and Streetman.[47]

Richland to Dallas (Julius Schepps Freeway)

The Central Expressway was the first freeway in Dallas, built as a new alignment of US 75. It first opened between San Jacinto Street and Fitzhugh Avenue in 1949 and soon stretched south to Hutchins. The stretch through downtown, however, ran along the surface, as did the part south of the bridge over the Trinity River, due to diversion of funds to the north portion.[48] By the late 1950s, a bypass to the east of the downtown section was planned.[49] By the time construction reached Hutchins, in about 1955, the state decided to build further segments to full freeway standards. By 1961, the freeway was complete between Hutchins and the SH 14 split at Richland, except for the bypass around Corsicana, which was built c. 1964.[30][41] This freeway was mostly built along the existing US 75; one of the projects in Navarro County, near Corsicana, was the first Interstate project in Texas approved under the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956.[47]

1955 "Yellow Book" plan for Interstates in Dallas

It was not until 1964 that I-345, extending I-45 north along the proposed Central Expressway bypass, was added as a proposed state highway.[50] I-45 and I-345 were built and opened in the 1970s, with the final section, between Lamar Street (exit 283A) and the Central Expressway (exit 283B),[30] opening on February 25, 1976.[51] At the north end, before it merged into the Central Expressway (which continued to carry US 75), I-345 straddled the bridges over Bryan Street and Ross Avenue, the latter the location of the opening ceremonies in 1949.[52] Because of their location, these two bridges were not replaced in the 1990s reconstruction of the North Central Expressway and are the only surviving grade separations from the initial construction north from downtown.[30]

At the time the interchange with I-20 was built, the freeway that crossed I-45 was then a part of I-635; it would not be until later when, initially, I-20 was added to I-635 as a multiplex, then later still, I-635 would be truncated away from the I-45 interchange (back around to just north of what is now I-20's interchange with US 175).[53][54]

Reconstruction and widening to six lanes, from the Ellis–Navarro county line (between exits 243 and 244) north to SH 310 (exit 275), began in 1991.[55] The last section, near the north end, was completed in 2002.[citation needed]

Exit list

CountyLocationmikmExitDestinationsNotes
GalvestonGalveston0.000.00
 SH 87 north (Broadway Avenue J) – Downtown, East Beach		Southern terminus of I-45 and SH 87; roadway continues as SH 87 northbound
1A Spur 342 (61st Street) / 71st Street – Scholes International Airport, West Beach
1.01.61B71st StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; northbound access via exit 1A
1.11.81C FM 188 (Teichman Road) / SH 275 (Harborside Drive)
Galveston BayGalveston Causeway
​4.26.84Village of Tiki Island
​5.28.45Frontage Road
La Marque6.210.06Frontage RoadSouthbound exit and entrance only
6.710.87A

 SH 3 north / SH 146 north – Texas City, La Marque		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
7.011.37B
 SH 6 west – Bayou Vista, Hitchcock		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
7.311.77CFrontage RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
8.213.27 SH 6 / SH 146 – Texas CitySouthbound exit and northbound entrance
9.014.58Frontage RoadSouthbound entrance only; northbound exit is via exit 10
9.715.69Southbound exit and northbound entrance
10.116.310 FM 519 (Main Street)
11.117.911Vauthier Road
Texas City12.219.612 FM 1765 (Texas Avenue) – La Marque, Texas City
13.221.213Century Boulevard, Delany Road
14.723.715 FM 1764 / FM 2004 (Mall of the Mainland Parkway) – HitchcockNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
15.725.316
 FM 1764 east (Emmett F. Lowry Expressway) – Texas City		Northbound entrance and southbound exit; access to Mainland Medical Center
17.027.417Holland Road, Hughes Road
Dickinson18.930.419 FM 517 / Hughes Road – Dickinson, Alvin
League City20.032.220 FM 646 (16th Street) – Santa FeInterchange is planned to become the SH 99 (Grand Parkway) interchange
22.035.422 SH 96 / League City ParkwayNo northbound entrance (closed until June 2023)
22.736.523 FM 518 (West Main Street) – League CityNo northbound exit (closed untl June 2023); northbound exit is via exit 22
HarrisWebster I-45 Express LaneSouthern end of Express Lane; southbound entrance only
25.040.224 NASA 1 – NASASouthbound exit and northbound entrance; access to Houston Methodist St. John Hospital
24.339.125 FM 528 (NASA Parkway) / NASA 1 – Alvin, NASANorthbound exit for NASA Road 1 via frontage road, access to Houston Methodist St. John Hospital
25.741.426 Bay Area Boulevard – University of Houston–Clear LakeAccess to Clear Lake Regional Medical Center
— I-45 Express Lane northNorthbound exit only
26.843.127El Dorado Boulevard
Houston28.045.129 FM 2351 (Clear Lake City Boulevard) – Friendswood
29.447.3—FM 1959 (Dixie Farm Road)Southbound right exit and northbound right entrance for reversible Express Lane only
30 FM 1959 (Dixie Farm Road) – Ellington Field
30.949.731 Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) / FM 2553 (Scarsdale Boulevard)Northbound exit and southbound entrance
—Southpoint Park & RideSouthbound exit and northbound right entrance for reversible Express Lane only
—Fuqua Park & RideSouthbound right exit and northbound entrance for reversible Express Lane only
32.051.532 Sam Houston Tollway
32.752.633 Beltway 8 (Frontage Road) / Fuqua StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
33.654.134Almeda–Genoa Road / South Shaver Road
34.856.035Clearwood Drive, Edgebrook Drive
35.957.836Airport Boulevard, College Avenue
— Hobby AirportAccess from reversible Express Lane only
—Monroe Park & Ride
37.059.538 SH 3 (Monroe Road) / Winkler Drive / Bellfort Avenue / Howard Drive
38.762.338BHoward Drive, Bellfort AvenueSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
38.962.639Park Place Boulevard, Broadway Boulevard
40.164.540AFrontage RoadNorthbound exit only
40.364.940B

 I-610 west (South Loop Freeway west) / SH 35 south (Reveille Street) – Pearland, Alvin


 I-610 east (South Loop Freeway east) to SH 225 – Pasadena		I-610 exit 32; I-610 west/SH 35 not signed northbound
40.465.040C
 I-610 west (South Loop Freeway)		Left exit northbound; southbound access via exit 40B; I-610 exit 32A
— I-610Access via frontage roads from Reversible Express Lane only
40.665.341AWoodridge Drive
41.767.141BGriggs Road, Broad Street
42.668.642
 US 90 Alt. (South Wayside Drive)		Northbound access via exit 41B
42.768.743ATelephone Road
43.169.443BTellepsen Street
43.870.544AElgin-Lockwood, Cullen Boulevard – University of HoustonNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
—Eastwood Transit Center, Emancipation AvenueNorthern end of reversible Express Lane; northbound exit and southbound entrance
44.371.344B
 Spur 5 south – University of Houston		Southbound exit only
44.671.844CCullen Boulevard, Lockwood-Elgin – University of HoustonSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
44.070.845
 SH 288 south – Lake Jackson, Freeport, Houston Zoo
I-69 / US 59 – Cleveland, Victoria		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-69 exit 129A northbound, 129B southbound
45AScott StreetNorthbound access via exit 45
46Saint Joseph Parkway, Pease Street, Emancipation Avenue – Downtown DestinationsNorthbound exit only; Saint Joseph Parkway and Emancipation Avenue were formerly Calhoun Avenue and Dowling Street, respectively
45.873.746A

 I-69 north / US 59 north – Cleveland		Southbound left exit and northbound entrance; I-69 exit 129B southbound.
45.973.946B
 SH 288 south – Lake Jackson, Freeport, Houston Zoo


 I-69 south / US 59 south – Victoria		Southbound exit and northbound left entrance; I-69 exit 129A northbound
47.576.447B Houston Avenue / Memorial Drive – Amtrak StationNorthbound exit only
47AAllen ParkwayLeft exits
47.876.947CMcKinney StreetSouthbound left exit and northbound entrance
47.977.147DDallas Street / Pierce StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
—Smith Street / Milam StreetSouthern end of reversible Express Lane; southbound exit and northbound entrance; mainline I-45 access to Milan St. via exit 48A southbound
48.377.748A
 I-10 east (US 90 east) – Beaumont		Left exit southbound; I-10 exit 768
—
 I-10 west (US 90 west) / Quitman Street		Southbound exit and northbound right entrance for reversible Express Lane only; I-10 exit 768A
48.678.248B
 I-10 west (US 90 west) – San Antonio		Left exit northbound; I-10 exits 768
49.279.249AQuitman StreetSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
49.780.049BNorth Main Street, Houston Avenue
50.280.850APatton StreetSouthbound exit is via exit 50
50.881.850BCavalcade Street, Link Road, Patton StreetSigned as exit 50 southbound; Link Road not signed southbound; Patton Street not signed northbound
51.482.751
 I-610 (North Loop Freeway) to Hardy Toll Road		I-610 exits 17B-C; access to Hardy Toll Road via I-610 east
—
 Airline Drive to I-610		Access from Reversible Express Lane only
52.584.552AFrontage RoadSouthbound exit only
52.384.252BCrosstimbers Road
52.885.053Airline Drive
53.285.654Tidwell Road
54.287.255AParker Road, Yale Street
55.489.255BLittle York RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
56.590.956A Spur 261 (Shepherd Drive)No northbound exit
56.691.156BVeterans Memorial Drive / Little York RoadSouthbound exit and entrance only
57.492.457AGulf Bank RoadSigned as exit 57B southbound; northbound exit was formerly signed exit 56A for Canino Road
—North Shepherd Drive (Spur 261)Northbound right exit and southbound entrance for Reversible Express Lane only
57.592.557B SH 249 (West Mount Houston Road) – TomballFormer FM 149
58.393.859West Road
—

 To Sam Houston Tollway / Beltway 8 – George Bush Intercontinental Airport		Northbound right exit and southbound right entrance for Reversible Express Lane only; access via frontage roads
59.395.460A FM 525 (Aldine Bender Road) / Fallbrook Road / Beltway 8 (Frontage Road)Beltway 8/Frontage Road not signed northbound
60.296.960B Beltway 8 (Frontage Road)Southbound access via exit 60A
60.4–
60.5		97.2–
97.4		60C-D

 Beltway 8 east (Sam Houston Parkway) / Sam Houston Tollway west – George Bush Intercontinental Airport		Signed as exits 60C (Sam Houston Tollway) and 60D (Beltway 8) northbound; signed as exit 60B southbound
60.897.861Greens Road
61.799.362Rankin Road, Kuykendahl Road
—Kuykendahl Park & RideAccess from reversible Express Lane only
62.9101.263Airtex Drive
64.6104.064Richey Road
65.7105.766A FM 1960 – Addicks, HumbleSigned as exit 66 southbound; access to Houston Northwest Medical Center
— FM 1960Northbound right exit and southbound right entrance for reversible Express Lane only
66.8107.566BHollow Tree Street, Parramatta LaneNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
— I-45 Express Lane southNorthern end of Reversible Express Lane
68.3109.968Cypresswood Drive, Holzwarth Road, Louetta RoadLouetta Road not signed northbound
Houston–Spring line69.0111.070A FM 2920 – Tomball
Spring70.4–
71.5		113.3–
115.1		70B SH 99 Toll (Grand Parkway) / Spring Stuebner Road westSigned as exit 71A southbound; Spring Stuebner Road signed northbound only
71.7–
72.5		115.4–
116.7		72

 To Hardy Toll Road south / Springwoods Village Parkway		Northbound exit and southbound entrance; southbound access to Springwoods Village Parkway (formerly Spring Crossing Drive) via exit 72A
Harris–Montgomery
county line		72B
 Hardy Toll Road south		Drivers using this exit must pay toll; southbound exit and northbound entrance
MontgomeryRayford72A

 To SH 99 Toll east (Grand Parkway)		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
73.3118.073Rayford Road, Sawdust Road
The Woodlands74.3–
75.6		119.6–
121.7		76Robinson Road, Woodlands ParkwaySigned as exits 76A (Robinson Road) and 76B (Woodlands Parkway) northbound
76.2122.677 Lake Woodlands Drive, Research Forest Drive, Tamina RoadAccess to Memorial Hermann The Woodlands Hospital; Lake Woodlands Drive not signed southbound (access via exit 76 from I-45 southbound)
77.9–
79.1		125.4–
127.3		79 SH 242 (College Park Drive) / Needham RoadSigned as exits 79A (east) and 79B (west, a former toll ramp) northbound; access to St. Luke's Health - The Woodlands Hospital and Houston Methodist The Woodlands Hospital
Conroe81.0130.481 FM 1488 – Magnolia, Hempstead
81.9131.882River Plantation DriveNorthbound exit only, southbound exit is via exit 83
83.2133.983Grand Central Parkway, Crighton RoadExit formerly co-signed with Camp Strake Road
83.9135.084
 SH 75 north (Frazier Street) / Loop 336		Signed as exit 84B northbound, access to Conroe Regional Medical Center
84.9136.685 Gladstell StreetAccess to Conroe Regional Medical Center
85.9138.287A SH 105 / FM 2854 – Conroe, Lake ConroeSigned as exit 87 southbound, access to Conroe Regional Medical Center, downtown Conroe
87.2140.387BWilson RoadNorthbound exit only; southbound access via exit 88
88.0141.688 Loop 336 – Navasota, Cleveland
88.9143.189 FM 3083 (Teas Nursery Road)
90.1145.090League Line Road
​92.1148.292 FM 830 (Seven Coves Drive)
Willis94.4151.994 FM 1097 (W. Montgomery Street) – Willis, Lake Conroe
95.1153.095Longstreet RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
​96.7155.697Calvary Road
​98.0157.798 SH 75 / Shepard Hill Road / Old Danville RoadSH 75 not signed southbound
WalkerNew Waverly102.4164.8102 SH 150 / FM 1374 / FM 1375 – New WaverlySouthbound exit ramp closed; formerly signed as exit 103 southbound
​109.9176.9109 PR 40 – Huntsville State Park
Huntsville112.3180.7112 SH 75 – Sam Houston State University
112.7181.4113 SH 19 – Riverside, Crockett, Lake LivingstonNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
113.5182.7114 FM 1374 (Montgomery Road) – Sam Houston State UniversityAccess to Huntsville Memorial Hospital
115.1185.2115Avenue S
116.0186.7116
 US 190 east (11th Street) / SH 30 – Huntsville, College Station, Livingston, Lake Livingston		Southern end of US 190 overlap
117.0188.3117Frontage RoadNo southbound exit
​118.0189.9118

 Future I-14 east / SH 75 / FM 1791 – Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, Huntsville Regional Airport		Southern end of possible I-14 overlap[56]
​122.9197.8123 FM 1696
​132.3212.9132 FM 2989
Madison​136.8220.2136 Spur 67
Madisonville141.8228.2142



 Future I-14 west (E Main Street) / US 190 west / SH 21 west – Bryan, Crockett		Northern end of US 190 (and possible I-14) overlap[56]
​146.1235.1146 SH 75 – Madisonville
​152.2244.9152 SH OSR (Old San Antonio Road) – Normangee
Leon​156.2251.4156 FM 977 – Leona
Centerville163.9263.8164 SH 7 (St Marys Street) – Centerville
Buffalo178.5287.3178 US 79 – Buffalo, Palestine, Jacksonville
​179.9289.5180 SH 164 – Groesbeck
Freestone​189.7305.3189 SH 179 – Teague
Fairfield198.0318.7197 US 84 – Fairfield, Teague
198.8319.9198 FM 27 – Fairfield, WorthamAccess to East Texas Medical Center-Fairfield
​206.2331.8206 FM 833
​211.4340.2211 FM 80 – Streetman, Kirvin
Navarro​213.4343.4213 SH 75 / FM 246 – Streetman, Wortham
​218.7352.0218 FM 1394 – RichlandNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
​219.8353.7219A SH 14 – Richland, MexiaNo northbound exit
​219.9353.9219BFrontage RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
​220.2354.4220Frontage Road
Angus221.3356.1221
224.8361.8225 FM 739 – Angus, Mustang
Corsicana227 SH 31 – Athens, Waco
228.5367.7228A15th StreetSouthbound exit is via exit 228B
229.0368.5228B
 I-45 BL north / Frontage Road – Corsicana		Left exit northbound
229.2368.9229
 US 287 south – Palestine		Southern end of US 287 overlap
231.3372.2231
 Bus. SH 31 – Waco, Athens		Access to Navarro Regional Hospital
232.7374.5232Roane Road, E. 5th Avenue
​235.2378.5235AFrontage RoadSigned as exit 235 northbound
​235.7379.3235B
 I-45 BL south – Corsicana		Southbound exit and northbound entrance
Rice237.3381.9237Frontage Road
238.7384.2238 FM 1603
240.1386.4239 FM 1126
242.2389.8242Calhoun Street – Rice
243.1391.2243Frontage Road
Ellis​244.1392.8244 FM 1182
Alma246.2396.2246 FM 1183 – Alma
​257.6414.6247
 US 287 north – Waxahachie, Fort Worth		Northern end of US 287 overlap
Ennis249.2401.0249
 I-45 BL north / FM 85 – Ennis
251.0403.9251A FM 1181 (Creechville Road)
251.7405.1251B SH 34 (E. Ennis Avenue) – Kaufman, Italy
253.3407.6253
 I-45 BL south – Ennis
​255.0410.4255 FM 879 – Garrett
Palmer258.1415.4258
 I-45 BL north / Parker Hill Road – Palmer
258.6416.2259 FM 813 (Jefferson Street)
259.6417.8260
 I-45 BL south / Frontage Road – Palmer
​262.3422.1262Frontage Road
​263.0423.3263A Loop 561 – Trumbull
​263.7424.4263BFrontage RoadNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
​266.1428.2264Southbound exit and northbound entrance
​264.8426.2265
 I-45 BL north		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Ferris265.4427.1266 FM 660 (5th Street)
266.8429.4267Frontage Road
Dallas​268.3431.8268
 I-45 BL south / Malloy Bridge Road
​269.4433.6269Mars Road
Wilmer270.4435.2270Belt Line Road
271.7437.3271Pleasant Run Road
Hutchins272.7438.9272Fulghum Road
273.5440.2273Wintergreen Road
274.7442.1274Dowdy Ferry Road, Palestine Street
Dallas275.9444.0275
 SH 310 north (South Central Expressway)		Northbound exit and southbound entrance
276.1–
276.3		444.3–
444.7		276 I-20 (Lyndon B. Johnson Freeway) – Fort Worth, ShreveportSigned as exits 276A (west) and 276B (east); I-20 exits 473B-C
278.0447.4277Simpson Stuart Road
279.3–
279.5		449.5–
449.8		279 Loop 12Signed as exits 279A (east) and 279B (west) northbound
280.1450.8280Illinois Avenue, Linfield Street
281.4452.9281Overton RoadSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
282.1454.0282
 US 175 east (C.F. Hawn Freeway) – Kaufman		Southbound exit and northbound entrance[57]
283.1–
283.3		455.6–
455.9		283ALamar Street, Pennsylvania Avenue – Fair ParkNorthbound exit and southbound entrance
284.4457.7283BS.M. Wright Freeway (SH 310 south) / Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard – Fair ParkSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; former US 175; northbound access to MLK Jr. Boulevard via exit 283A
284.9458.5284A I-30 (US 67)Northbound exit and southbound entrance; I-30 exits 46-47B

 US 75 north – McKinney		Northern terminus of I-45 and southern terminus of unsigned I-345; access to US 75 via I-345
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Notes

  1. ^ Some sources use "IH-45", as "IH" is an abbreviation used by TxDOT for Interstate Highways.[2]

References

  1. ^ Starks, Edward (January 27, 2022). "Table 1: Main Routes of the Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways". FHWA Route Log and Finder List. Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on July 3, 2017. Retrieved December 25, 2023.
  2. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Highway Designations Glossary". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on July 10, 2022. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. ^ Hartzel, Tony (July 7, 2002). "Road Names Honor Texas Leaders". The Dallas Morning News.
  4. ^ a b Love, Caroline (December 7, 2021). "Federal highway officials visit Houston amid I-45 expansion civil rights investigation". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Vasquez, Lucio (November 16, 2021). "Harris County pauses federal lawsuit over I-45 expansion to negotiate with TxDOT". Houston Public Media. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  6. ^ a b "'It's just more and more lanes': the Texan revolt against giant new highways". the Guardian. April 29, 2022. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved April 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Lozano, Juan A (December 20, 2022). "Houston city officials support $9 billion I-45 expansion project despite dispute". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  8. ^ Begley, Dug (May 4, 2023). "The long, long journey ahead for $9.7B rebuild of I-45". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved May 6, 2023.
  9. ^ American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (2001). List of Control Cities for Use in Guide Signs on Interstate Highways. Washington, DC: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials.
  10. ^ "Interstate 45 South, the Gulf Freeway". Texas Freeway. Archived from the original on September 20, 2006. Retrieved September 25, 2006.[self-published source]
  11. ^ "Galveston-Houston Interurban". Houston Streetcars. Archived from the original on June 8, 2015. Retrieved October 4, 2014.[self-published source]
  12. ^ Texas State Highway Department (1936) [revised to November 23, 1939]. General Highway Map: Harris County Texas (Map). Supplementary Sheet 3 of 4. Archived from the original on March 12, 2007.
  13. ^ Texas State Highway Department (1936) [revised to November 23, 1939]. General Highway Map: Galveston County Texas (Map). Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  14. ^ "Satellite image of Gulf Freeway and Interstate 610 interchange" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved September 25, 2006.
  15. ^ "Clearing up confusion of multiple highway names". Houston Chronicle. November 20, 2005. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007.
  16. ^ "Highway Commission Adopts 25 Highways". Commerce Journal. July 6, 1917.
  17. ^ Texas State Highway Department. Map Showing Proposed System of State Highways as Adopted June 1917 (Map). Archived from the original on March 10, 2007.[full citation needed]
  18. ^ Texas State Highway Department (October 1, 1919). Highway Map: State of Texas (Map). Archived from the original on March 10, 2007.
  19. ^ Bureau of Public Roads & American Association of State Highway Officials (November 11, 1926). United States System of Highways Adopted for Uniform Marking by the American Association of State Highway Officials (Map). 1:7,000,000. Washington, DC: United States Geological Survey. OCLC 32889555. Archived from the original on April 13, 2017. Retrieved November 7, 2013 – via Wikimedia Commons.
  20. ^ Texas Highway Department (1954). Official Travel Map (Map). Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.[full citation needed]
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Slotboom, Erik (2003). "Chapter 4: The Spokes". Houston Freeways: A Historical and Visual Journey. Oscar F. "Erik" Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2006.[self-published source?]
  22. ^ Rand McNally & Company (1946). Houston, Texas (Map). Sinclair Oil. Archived from the original on December 2, 2013.
  23. ^ Chamber of Commerce of the United States (1952). Business Action for Better Cities. Chamber of Commerce of the United States. p. 66.
  24. ^ American Association of State Highway Officials (1952). Proceedings: Convention Group Meetings, Papers and Discussions. Kansas City, Missouri: American Association of State Highway Officials.
  25. ^ "Aerial View of the Downtown End of the Gulf Freeway". Texas Department of Transportation archive library. 1953. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.[full citation needed]
  26. ^ Rand McNally & Company (1953). Houston, Texas (Map). Sinclair Oil. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
  27. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
  28. ^ Slotboom, Erik (2003). "Chapter 5: The Loops". Houston Freeways: A Historical and Visual Journey. Oscar F. "Erik" Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2006.[self-published source?]
  29. ^ "Aerial View of the Gulfgate Shopping Center". Texas Department of Transportation Archive Library. c. 1960s. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  30. ^ a b c d e f Federal Highway Administration (2006). National Bridge Inventory.[full citation needed]
  31. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "State Highway No. 3". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
  32. ^ a b General Drafting Company (1955). Houston (Map). Humble Oil. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  33. ^ a b General Drafting Company (1958). Houston (Map). Humble Oil. Archived from the original on September 29, 2007.
  34. ^ Texas State Highway Department (1957) [State highways revised to January 1, 1961]. General Highway Map: Galveston County, Texas (Map).[permanent dead link‍]
  35. ^ a b Slotboom, Erik (2003). "Chapter 6: Freeway Mass Transit". Houston Freeways: A Historical and Visual Journey. Oscar F. "Erik" Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2006.[self-published source?]
  36. ^ Texas Department of Transportation (June 11, 2007). "Reconstruction of IH 45—Gulf Freeway in Webster Announced" (Press release). Archived from the original on October 8, 2012.[full citation needed]
  37. ^ Guthrie, Dana (May 27, 2011). "Gulf Freeway construction to begin this summer". Your Houston News. Archived from the original on May 30, 2011. Retrieved June 29, 2011.
  38. ^ Slotboom, Erik (2003). "Chapter 1: Building the System". Houston Freeways: A Historical and Visual Journey. Oscar F. "Erik" Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2006.[self-published source?]
  39. ^ Slotboom, Erik (2003). "Chapter 3: Downtown Freeways". Houston Freeways: A Historical and Visual Journey. Oscar F. "Erik" Slotboom. ISBN 0-9741605-3-9. Archived from the original on September 6, 2006. Retrieved September 11, 2006.[self-published source?]
  40. ^ General Drafting Company (1961). Houston, Texas (Map). Humble Oil. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007.
  41. ^ a b c General Drafting Company (1961). Texas (Map). Humble Oil. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013.
  42. ^ Sallee, Rad (April 23, 2006). "Rail on Richmond idea first rejected back in '83". Houston Chronicle. Archived from the original on June 10, 2006.
  43. ^ Cerota, Andy (December 6, 2021). "Federal officials now investigating I-45 expansion project". Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  44. ^ Coalition, Make I.-45 Better. "Make It Better". Make I-45 Better Coalition. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  45. ^ Jordan, Jay R. (June 21, 2022). "TxDOT to tear down apartments for controversial I-45 expansion near downtown Houston". Chron. Archived from the original on June 21, 2022. Retrieved June 21, 2022.
  46. ^ "Houston · Texas". Houston · Texas. Archived from the original on December 18, 2021. Retrieved December 18, 2021.
  47. ^ a b Federal Highway Administration. "Previous Interstate Facts of the Day". Federal Highway Administration. Archived from the original on April 26, 2006.
  48. ^ "Urban History: Central Expressway". Archived from the original on October 1, 2011.
  49. ^ "City Seeks Freeway Project". Dallas Times Herald. June 22, 1958.[full citation needed]
  50. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 345". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation.
  51. ^ "Interstate 45 to Open Feb 25". The Dallas Morning News. February 15, 1976.[full citation needed]
  52. ^ "North Central Turns 35 Today". The Dallas Morning News. August 19, 1984.[full citation needed]
  53. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 20". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  54. ^ Transportation Planning and Programming Division (n.d.). "Interstate Highway No. 635". Highway Designation Files. Texas Department of Transportation. Retrieved July 21, 2010.
  55. ^ Hartzel, Tony (October 29, 2000). "Road to Better Driving". The Dallas Morning News.[page needed]
  56. ^ a b "City of Huntsville, Walker County officials discuss I-14 project". The Huntsville Item. September 2, 2016. Archived from the original on December 25, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2017.
  57. ^ "S.M. Wright Project". Texas Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
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