Wikipedia: Interstate 45

Interstate 45
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Interstate 45 is an 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 at Texas State Highway 124; its northern end is in Dallas, Texas at Interstate 30.

Number of Miles

284 miles

Texas - 284 Miles

Major Cities Along the Route

Intersections with other Interstates

Spur Routes

Unmarked I-345 in Dallas, Texas. I-345 is less than one mile long and connects the end of I-45 to the end of US 75 along the east side of downtown Dallas. Since there are no signs labeling it as I-345, most people assume that is part of I-45 or US 75.

Notes

I-45 is not only an intrastate Interstate, but also is the shortest Interstate ending in a 5.

The ISTEA states that Oklahoma can submit U.S. Highways 69 and 75, from the Texas state line to Interstate 40 at Checotah, Oklahoma, as an interstate whenever it's ready for it. US 75 is controlled-access from Dallas to the Oklahoma border, as is US 69 from McAlester to Muskogee. But the 125-mile segment in between is built almost entirely at-grade, and would require a politically risky bypass around Atoka.
Despite this, some highway mavens propose extending I-45 from there to Muskogee, Oklahoma, then to Vinita, Oklahoma, and then through east Kansas along US 69 all the way up to Interstate 35 (where the US 69 freeway currently ends) in the Kansas side of suburban Kansas City.
If I-45 is extended to Kansas City, it would seem to make sense to reroute I-35 onto I-29 and then have I-45 run up to Minnesota as I-35 currently does. This would make I-35 and I-45 both transcontinental interstates.