IH-45 Galveston Bay Causeway (photo and magazine article added 31-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

North Freeway (IH-45 north) (section added 2-June-2001)

Source: Houston Chronicle Archives\

1959 Construction looking north at Spring-Stuebner (184 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

A major widening is in progress as of June 2001, and should be complete in 2003. 1959 Aerial view of construction at the Woodlands (184 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

Of course, the Woodlands did not exist in 1959. The overpass at the bottom of the photo appears to be Rayford-Sawdust road. Major widening of this section completed in 2001.

IH-45 north of Conroe, TX (40 miles north of downtown Houston) (added 23-Feb-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library\



Undated, circa 1961 Aerial view of construction (119 kB) October 1963 Texas Highways Magazine “Closing the Gaps” (457K)

This article describes the completion of a 7 mile section north of Conroe in 1963. November 1963 Texas Highways Magazine “More than Just a Hunk of Concrete” (395K)

The new section of Interstate near Conroe received a commendation for its scenic qualities. This is one of the few sections of Interstate in Texas where the right-of-way was not clear-cut. Forested medians are common in much of the rest of the nation, but not in Texas. Hopefully, forest will be preserved on the new sections of IH-69 to be constructed in the future.

Interstate 45 through downtown Houston (photo added 11-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

Southwest Freeway (US 59 South) (photos added 2-June-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library, Houston Chronicle Archives

Eastex Freeway (US59 North) (photos added 11-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

US 59 through Downtown Houston (section added 2-June-2001)

Source: Houston Chronicle Archives

1965 Construction of elevated structure at Union Station (270 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

The Enron Field baseball stadium was constructed on the abandoned railyard in 2000. This view reminded me of going to see the bicentennial “Freedom Train,” which was parked on these tracks in 1976. July 1966 Construction of freeway south of Buffalo Bayou (228 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

This view looking north shows the freeway was nearly complete in July 1966. 1966 Looking south over cleared right-of-way (195 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

This view looks south over the transition point from the elevated freeway to the depressed freeway near Bell Street, just north of IH-45. The right-of-way was clear in 1966, but construction had not yet begun. 1969 Right-of-way clearance south of IH-45 (378 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

This view looks south across the wide right-of-way south of IH-45, where US 59 and the South Freeway US 288 would merge.

Katy Freeway (IH-10 west) (added 23-Feb-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

October 1966 Texas Highways Magazine “Prestressed ‘Grape Arbor’ Spans I.H.10” Page 1 (204K) 2 (409K)

Ever since I was a kid growing up in Houston, I wondered why this crossing was constructed with this design. The railroad crosses the freeway at a 30 degree angle, so a large deck was built over the depressed freeway for the railroad tracks. Well, this article gives all the answers. There was a design priority to depress the freeway, and after that, cost was the deciding factor. December 17, 1967 Construction near Memorial Park, looking east (112 kB) January 1969 Texas Highways Magazine “Depressed Area Impressive” (239K)

On December 28, 1968, Interstate 10 between downtown and the West Loop 610 was opened. This is an impressive stretch of 10-lane freeway, mostly below grade as the article suggests. July 1972 Texas Highways Magazine “Kyser Did It His Way” Page 1 (398K) 2 (387K)

This article is about the completion of the final link in IH-10 through Houston, the section north of downtown, on May 17, 1972. It was the final achievement for engineer A.C. Kyser, who was in charge of much of Houston’s freeway design in the 1960’s. He does make a sadly prophetic comment in the article: “It will be increasingly difficult for the state to build new freeways.”

East Freeway (IH-10 East) (photo added 2-June-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library, Houston Chronicle Archives

September 1956 New San Jacinto River bridge (360 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

This photo shows the just-completed new bridge of the San Jacinto River on State Highway 73, which would become IH-10. The old truss bridge can be seen in the photo. The truss bridge was later removed, and the San Jacinto River Bridge was expanded. December 3, 1964 Construction of depressed section east of downtown (217 kB)

This unidentified photo appears to be the depressed section IH-10 between downtown and the East Loop IH-610 December 3, 1964 Construction of depressed section east of downtown (200 kB)

Beltway 8 / Sam Houston Tollway (photos added 2-June-2001)

Source: Texas Turnpike Authority Annual Reports, Houston Chronicle Archives

IH-610 (“Loop 610”) (photos added 2-June-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library, Houston Chronicle Archives

IH-610 Ship Channel Bridge (Texas Highways article added 11-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library and Texas Highways Magazine

Southwest Freeway (US59) / West Loop (IH-610) Interchange (added 23-Feb-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

December 1959 Aerial view looking east (278 kB)

Construction was just underway in December 1959. Notice the subdivision in the upper center of the photograph. This entire subdivision was displaced, some by the Southwest Freeway, the rest by the Greenway Plaza commercial complex. December 1959 Aerial view looking west (211 kB)

This view looking west shows the mostly vacant landscape of west Houston. May 1961 Aerial view of construction looking northeast (280 kB)

Construction was about 33% complete in May 1961. The interchange was complete and open in 1964.

Katy Freeway (IH-10) / West Loop (IH-610) Interchange (photos added 11-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

1963 Aerial view looking north (164 kB)

This view looks north along IH-610 over the interchange under construction. The interchange was only about half complete at this time. April 25, 1964 Ground level view along IH-10 (154 kB)

This view looks eastward along interstate 10. The eastbound lanes of IH-10 come to a halt just before the interchange, and traffic is forced to make a sharp left turn. December 3, 1964 Aerial view of interchange (315 kB) (added 11-May-2001)

This provides an excellent view of the eastbound mainlanes of IH-10 being diverted northward towards the Old Katy Road. December 3, 1964 Aerial view of interchange looking east (212 kB) (added 11-May-2001)

This view shows the end of the IH-10 main lanes just inside Loop 610.

Northwest Freeway (US 290) at the Loop (IH-610) (section added 11-May-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

December 3, 1964 Aerial view, looking northwest (229 kB)

This view shows that US 290 interchange was complete, but 290 came to a grinding halt just after the exit from Loop 610. December 3, 1964 Aerail view looking southeast towards downtown (237 kB) December 3, 1964 Aerial view looking east along IH-610 (237 kB)

Notice that IH-610 also stops just north of the interchange, but the freeway feeder roads were already in place.

North Freeway (IH-45) / North Loop (IH-610) Interchange (added 23-Feb-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

May 1961 Aerial view looking north (148 kB)

This view looks north along IH-45 over the interchange under construction. May 1961 Aerial view looking west (238 kB)

This view looks west along IH-610. Notice the left exit for traffic connecting to southbound IH-45. This is one of last occurrence of this poor design practice in Houston.

Baytown Tunnel, SH146, and the Fred Hartman Bridge (added 10-March-2001)

Source: TxDOT archive library

The 4110 foot (1253m) Baytown Tunnel was opened in 1953. After completion of the 146 bridge in 1995, the Baytown Tunnel was removed and all traces of it destroyed.

Allen Parkway

Source: Houston Chronicle Archives, Houston Road Planning Document



1929 The “Deathtrap” (428 kB) Image courtesy of the Houston Chronicle Archives (added 2-June-2001)

This photo appeared in the 1929 City Plan for the City of Houston. The 1929 document had very high aspirations for Houston. It included many photographs of locations in European cities, such as the Place de la Concorde in Paris, Trafalgar Square in London, and bridge views Venice, Italy. But first, a few local problems had to be addressed, such as dangerous roads. This view shows Allen Parkway (then Buffalo Parkway) where it went underneath the railroad, calling it a “deathtrap.” 1953 Buffalo Parkway and Downtown Houston. High resolution, 609 kB, Medium resolution, 115 kB

In 1953, Allen Parkway was still called Buffalo Parkway. Something huge is missing in this photo. If you’re from Houston, you’ll spot it right away! For today’s view of what is missing, click here. (Hint: it’s not the skyscrapers.)

Freeport/Surfside – 332 Intracoastal Crossing (added 29-November-2001)

Source: TxDOT archives

These photos show the original intracoastal crossing at 332 connecting to Surfside. This bridge opened on August 21, 1954, and was replaced with a new span in the late 1990’s. For views of the new bridge, see the Brazosport photo gallery.

Circa 1955 Side view Circa 1955 Angle view

1932 McKee Street Bridge, Spanning Buffalo Bayou (added 26-June-2006)

Source: United States Library of Congress

These images show construction drawings and 2001 photos of this historic bridge near downtown.