Interstate 45, Interstate highway in eastern Texas, United States
Interstate 45 is a highway in eastern Texas that runs 285 miles from Dallas in the north through Houston to Galveston on the Gulf Coast. The route crosses nine counties and passes through landscapes ranging from urban centers to rural plains.
The southern section between Houston and Galveston opened in 1948 as the first freeway in Texas. The route expanded northward over the following decades, reaching Dallas by the 1970s.
The highway stands as a representation of Texas transportation development, enabling economic growth between the industrial centers of Dallas and the Gulf Coast region.
Digital information boards along the route display current traffic conditions and alerts. The roadway is wide in most sections, though congestion occurs regularly in urban areas during rush hours.
During Hurricane Rita in 2005, the route turned into a stationary parking area as thousands tried to leave Houston at the same time. Some vehicles took more than twelve hours to cover distances normally driven in one hour.
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