| Use Scott Street for access to the downtown HOV lane.
Cullen Blvd exits here as Exit 44A. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The HOV lane has a direct exit to Cullen Blvd to access
University of Houston. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| At Scott Street, the freeway narrows to three lanes
into Downtown. This stretch of freeway is notoriously
congested during rush hour. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex
Nitzman.
|
| Approaching downtown, a dual freeway is set up. The
outside lanes are planned for the future Alvin Freeway,
not yet constructed. The next exit is for US 59 and SH
288. The dual freeway lanes start with the on and off-ramps
to downtown streets. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The US 59 South and SH 288 exit is a left hand exit,
while US 59 North is a right hand exit. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| A view of the dual freeway close to downtown. The northbound
dual freeway lanes end in ½ mile, just before the
US 59 interchange. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Thru traffic on IH-45 needs to use the right two lanes.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The HOV lane crosses over and exits to downtown in this
shot. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The US 59/IH-45 interchange opened in 1974, but was
designed well before that time as witnessed by the left
hand exits. US 59 north exits first. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Looking from the overpass at Mile 46, Downtown is clearly
visible. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The two left lanes exit for US 59 south and SH 288 south.
Ahead is the Pierce Elevated section of IH-45. Photo taken
10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The Pierce Elevated opened in 1967 in a narrow right
of way. Due to construction delays and increasing costs,
only ½ block of right of way next to Pierce Street
was acquired, which today leads to a bottleneck at all
hours on IH-45. High rise buildings surround the corridor,
such as seen on the left side of the photo. Photo taken
10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Advance signage for Exits 47A, Allen Parkway, and 47B,
Houston Avenue and Memorial Drive. After IH-45 turns northeast
to form the west side of the downtown loop, the complicated
interchange complex with these roads can be found. Photo
taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Now on the west side of Downtown, IH-45 remains elevated
as it approaches Memorial Drive and Allen Parkway. Photo
taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| IH-45 dips under Dallas Street, while ramps are elevated
over Dallas Street. Northbound, the elevated ramp is an
entrance from Pierce Street and Brazos Street, while Southbound,
the ramp is an exit to Pierce and Jefferson Streets. The
elevated ramps were added in 1962, while the original
underpass dates back to 1955. Photo taken 10/22/03 by
Alex Nitzman.
|
| Climbing out from Dallas Street, we find exits 47A and
47B for Allen parkway (on the left) and Memorial Drive
(right). The Memorial Drive and Houston Ave exit joins
with an exit from the collector/distributor road northbound.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| A drivers eye view of the interchange complex with Allen
Parkway. Allen Parkway is a quasi-freeway going west from
downtown along Buffalo Bayou to Kirby Drive. It is not
built to freeway standards but has exits and only one
signal along it's length. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex
Nitzman.
|
| IH-45 north passes under the exit to Allen Parkway from
IH-45 south, and over Houston Avenue and Memorial Drive.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Passing the Houston Aquarium, we approach IH-10. IH-10
west is a left exit, while IH-10 east is a right exit.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Exit 48A serves IH-10 east. After crossing IH-10 east,
exit 48B will join IH-10 west. Photo taken 10/22/03 by
Alex Nitzman.
|
| Looking at the IH-45/IH-10 interchange. The HOV lane
into downtown is elevated, while IH-10 runs between both
directions of IH-45. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Ducking under the rail bridge, exit 48B jogs to join
IH-10 west. The next exit is for Houston Ave and North
Main Street. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| In this shot, we can see the elevated HOV lane , IH-10
west, and IH-45 north, which we are on. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Leaving IH-10 behind, IH-45 proceeds north following
Little White Oak Bayou. This section of freeway opened
in 1962, and was renovated in 1982. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Exit 49B serves Houston Ave and North Main Street. Photo
taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| IH-45 is below grade north of IH-10 and remains below
grade until IH-610, reflecting the Kyser designs which
were influenced heavily by California. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Advance signage for exit 50A, Patton Street. Note the
narrow and low underpass ahead. Photo taken 10/22/03 by
Alex Nitzman.
|
| Exit 50A serves Patton Street. IH-610 north is rapidly
approaching. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Advance signage for Cavalcade St and Link Rd, exit 50B.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Use Exit 51, IH-610 east, to access the parallel Hardy
Toll Road. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Exit 50B serves Cavalcade St and Link Rd. The next exit
is IH-610. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| The freeway is back at grade as it approaches IH-610,
and the right lane exits to IH-610. Photo taken 10/22/03
by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Exit 51 serves IH-610. The next exit is for Crosstimbers
Road. Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| On the transition ramp from IH-45 north to IH-610 east.
Photo taken 10/22/03 by Alex Nitzman.
|
| Just north of IH-610, the freeway right of way narrows.
IH-45 is congested along this stretch of the North Freeway
quite often. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 52B serves Crosstimbers Road. The next exit is
Airline Dr. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 53 serves Airline Drive. The next exit is Tidwell
Road. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 54 serves Tidwell Road. Off-ramps to the feeder
roads are very short along this stretch of IH-45. Photo
taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| This view of IH-45 shows the number of billboards and
businesses clustered against the freeway. Photo taken
June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 55A serves Parker Road and Yale Street. Photo taken
June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Use Exit 55B to reach the North Shepard Park and Ride.
Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| This is a typical view of the North Freeway with 8 thru
lanes and the reversible transitway. Photo taken June
19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 56A serves Canino Road. Photo taken June 19, 2005
by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for exit 57A, Gulf Bank Road. The attachment
to the sign is a series of audio sensors to measure traffic
flow. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 57A serves Gulf Bank Road. The next exit is SH
249. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for exit 57B, West Mt. Houston Road
and SH 249. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 57B serves SH 249 and West Mt. Houston Road. There
have been proposals to extend the SH 249 freeway from
the Sam Houston Tollway southeast to IH-45 as a toll road,
but no formal plans are in place at this time. Photo taken
June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Use exit 59 to reach the VA Houston National Cemetary.
Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for exit 59, West Road. Photo taken
June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 59 serves West Road. The next exit is FM 525, Aldine
Bender Road. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for FM 525, Aldine Bender Road and Fallbrook
Road. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for the Sam Houston Tollway and Sam
Houston Parkway, Beltway 8. Beltway 8 is very close to
Aldine Bender Road leading to four closely spaced exits.
Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Advance signage for Beltway 8, the Sam Houston Parkway,
serving Intercontinental Airport. Photo taken June 19,
2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 60A serves FM 525, Aldine Bender Road, and Fallbrook
Road. In the background is a "wishbone" formed
by exits from the HOV lane across the mainline lanes.
Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Use Exit 61 for Greenspoint Mall. Exit 61 is just north
of the IH-45/Beltway 8 interchange. Photo taken June 19,
2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Reflecting the complexity of the IH-45/Beltway 8 interchange,
this overhead offers signage for three exits, all ¼
mile apart. The frontage roads, Beltway 8, exit first,
followed by Sam Houston Tollway west and Beltway 8 (Sam
Houston Parkway) east. Photo taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin
Trinkle.
|
| This guide sign shows the left four lanes continue as
IH-45, and the right lane has exits for the Beltway 8
frontage road, and Sam Houston Tollway west before exiting
to Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Parkway) east. Photo taken June
19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 60B serves the Beltway 8 Frontage Road. Photo taken
June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Exit 60C serves Sam Houston Tollway west traffic. Photo
taken June 19, 2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
| Finally, Exit 60D serves Beltway 8 (Sam Houston Parkway)
east and Intercontinental Airport. Photo taken June 19,
2005 by Kevin Trinkle.
|
Page Updated June 30, 2005.
