The portion of I-45 between downtown Houston and Galveston is known to Houston residents as the “Gulf Freeway”. It was the first freeway built in Texas—opened in stages beginning on October 1, 1948, up to a full completion to Galveston in 1952. This construction project includes design changes, improvement and reconstruction – revising entrance and exit ramp locations and constructing detention ponds — from south of FM 518 to FM 1764, located within Galveston County, Texas.
