Unsigned Interstate 345 Texas
Overview
Interstate 345 overlays the southernmost section of U.S. 75 along the Central Expressway between Downtown and Cle Elum in Dallas. The route is unmarked, with U.S. 75 signed alone on the mostly elevated route between IH 30 / IH 45 and State Spur 366 (Woodall Rogers Freeway).
Exits along IH 345 extend the IH 45 numbering system northward to SS 366 (Woodall Rogers Freeway). They reset at the exchange with Woodall Rodgers Freeway, which is Exit 1 along U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) southbound.1
Following a feasibility study by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) started in 2019, five plans were evaluated for addressing the elevated freeway along IH 345/U.S. 75 built in 1973. The hybrid plan was selected. It keeps IH 345 above IH 30 and then lowers the freeway by around 65 feet while reconnecting the street grid linking Downtown Dallas and Deep Ellum. The freeway will ascend to connect with U.S. 75 at the present grade. Other options included removing the highway altogether, fully building it below grade, elevating IH 345 onto a narrow footprint, or maintaining the existing roadway.
If the plan is fully approved, construction could potentially start in 2027.
Mileage by State
| Texas | 1.43 mi |
Data Sources
TxDOT Statewide Planning Map. https://www.dot.state.tx.us/apps/statewide_mapping/StatewidePlanningMap.html
History
IH 345 was built in conjunction with the IH 45 / Central Expressway project in the 1970s.2 The designation was approved by the American Association of State Highway Officials (AASHO) on June 30, 1970.
North End 
‐ Dallas, TX
North a t
A two-wye interchange (Exit 286 A) joins the north end of unmarked IH 345 with Woodall Rodgers Freeway (SS 366) west to the Stemmons Freeway and the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge to the Trinity Groves neighborhood. U.S. 75 exit numbers commence at succeeding off-ramp for Hall Street and Lemmon Avenue. 08/06/19
East at
SS 366 east crosses the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River onto a viaduct connecting with IH 35E (Stemmons Freeway). SS 366 continues one mile east to U.S. 75 and IH 345. 08/06/19
South at
U.S. 75 advances southward below grade along the Central Expressway toward the exchange with State Spur 366 (Woodall Rodgers Freeway) west to IH 35E (Stemmons Freeway) and the unmarked beginning of IH 345. 08/06/19
North End – Past Views
Past Views Gallery (Tap to Expand / Collapse Section)
South at
IH 345 accompanies U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) 1.5 miles south to the four-level interchange with IH 30. 09/05/09
South End 
‐ Dallas, TX
South at
The initial sign for IH 30 appears along IH 345/U.S. 75 (Central Expressway) southbound within the exchange at SS 366 (Woodall Rodgers Freeway) west. 09/05/09
North at
An end sign for IH 45 precedes the multi level interchange with IH 30 and U.S. 75 / IH 345 (Central Expressway) by a half mile. U.S. 75 extends the IH 45 freeway northward to Colbert, Oklahoma, serving the communities of McKinney, Sherman and Denison, Texas. Photo by Justin Cozart (12/02).
East at
Ramps from IH 35E (Stemmons Freeway) to IH 30 east form a collector distributor roadway to IH 45/345 and U.S. 75 ahead of Hotel Street. 05/10/22
West at
One mile ahead of the four-level interchange (Exit 47 B) with the Central Expressway north and IH 45 south on IH 30 westbound. 08/06/19
References
- Michael R. Wilson, email: "I-45/I-345/US-75 in Dallas" August 11, 2003
- "From Anywhere to Everywhere: The Development of the Interstate Highway System in Texas" by Penny Beaumont, Rhonda Brinkmann, David Ellis, Chris Pourteau, and Brandon V. Webb, Texas Transportation Institute, page 34. Retrieved from http://tti.tamu.edu/interstate_anniversary/white_paper
- "TxDOT wants to lower I-345 in a trench, reconnect roads from downtown Dallas to Deep Ellum." The Dallas Morning News, May 24, 2022.