Interstate 45

Interstate 45 is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Texas, United States. Like other "interstates", it is commonly referred to as I-45. Its odd number indicates that it is primarily a north-south highway. Its southern end is in Galveston, Texas (where the mile count begins) at the intersection of Texas State Highway 87 and Texas State Spur 342; its northern end is in Dallas, Texas at Interstate 30. (Interstate 345, an unmarked interstate, seamlessly carries traffic from the I-45 terminus at I-30 to US 75 start at Texas State Spur 366.http://www.dot.state.tx.us/tpp/hwy/ih/ih0345.htm)

Related Topics:
Intrastate - Interstate highway - Texas - United States - Galveston, Texas - Texas State Highway 87 - Texas State Spur 342 - Dallas, Texas - Interstate 30 - Interstate 345 - US 75 - Texas State Spur 366

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Interstate 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 the Texas Department of Transportation started contraflow lane reversal at FM 1488, it didn't alleviate the traffic jam deep into the city, as that starting point was even north of The Woodlands, which is regarded as a northern terminus of the greater Houston area before hitting Conroe.

Related Topics:
Interstate 45 - Hurricane Rita - 2005 - Houston - Texas Department of Transportation - Contraflow lane reversal - The Woodlands - Conroe

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Unlike most of the other interstates ending in "5", it is not a border-to-border highway.

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