Here’s how much more development Downtown Dallas could have if it removed the I-345 freeway.

Read a KERA article that says it would only free up ~13 acres which would basically be split in half for use. So half of the area is most likely not going to be used for housing development. The other half could. They would also need to continue trying to build this as an underground highway because some people want a free way

https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-10-16/plan-replace-i-345-deep-ellum-underground-highway-dallas?_amp=true

Comment by animalhappiness at 03/02/2025 at 14:30 UTC

40 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Think of all the 5 above 1 apartment buildings we could have...

Comment by SneakyUserLoser at 03/02/2025 at 15:06 UTC

14 upvotes, 2 direct replies

Many of those developments could happen with 345 still existing anyway right?

Comment by Sight_Distance at 03/02/2025 at 16:53 UTC

8 upvotes, 0 direct replies

345 carries about 200k vehicles a day. 30 carries the same before it gets to the horseshoe. 345 through traffic (45 to 75) would have to mix with 30 before the horseshoe to make that connection, resulting in about 400k vehicles a day. As a comparison, US75 just north of 635 currently sees 250k, maybe slightly more if you count the frontage roads.

No way this is viable without major overhaul of all other mixmaster freeways, which we just spent billions reconstructing.

Comment by noncongruent at 03/02/2025 at 14:53 UTC

17 upvotes, 3 direct replies

Thetransitguy is an idiot. TXDOT already did extensive studies on how bad removing I-345 would be for both regional and local traffic, and it would be bad, really bad. I-345 is a critical connector between US75 and I-45. Removing it would cut Dallas in half as it would effectively isolate north and south populations and jobs from each other. The disperse theory fell apart under the slightest scrutiny. TXDOT, who owns this interstate segment, has already stated that the removal option is dead. One of the two main backers of the social media push to remove it is dead, the other, a developer friend of his who wanted to build apartments there, didn't have the media connections to keep the "Delete I-345" movement going, but ultimately TXDOT's responsibility is to keep goods and labor moving efficiently on our state's highways.

Comment by Fiss at 03/02/2025 at 15:00 UTC

9 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Dallas definitely needs a shit ton more traffic for years and years so we can all have luxury apartments

Comment by ryrysomeguy at 03/02/2025 at 17:35 UTC

2 upvotes, 1 direct replies

Didn't TX DOT already decide they're converting I-345 into a tunnel?

Comment by omar_strollin at 03/02/2025 at 14:34 UTC

2 upvotes, 2 direct replies

What do the colors mean?

Comment by Bryan5397 at 03/02/2025 at 15:20 UTC

2 upvotes, 0 direct replies

We need to build smaller parking lots, and build them up

Comment by Professional_Sand771 at 03/02/2025 at 18:11 UTC

1 upvotes, 2 direct replies

removing a highway when dallas traffic is already horrible seems like a bad idea

Comment by OddS0cks at 03/02/2025 at 18:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Big Dig part deux

Comment by sliprin at 03/02/2025 at 19:25 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

They could form hundreds of small one family lots underneath it, leaving the bridges in place for hard scape roofing. Rent the newly formed lots to homeless folks to set tents up on or build shanty’s on. Rent only, must have your own shopping cart!

Comment by Optimistiqueone at 03/02/2025 at 19:34 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

They'd rather patchwork density throughout the city where there is enough room to add one development and think that will make the whole area walkable. Walkable was trendy, but in the day of door dash and delivering groceries, walkable has to mean so much more than a grocery store downstairs. It has to mean intense, I don't need a car even to go to work density, which is achievable in some areas of Dallas as you have pointed out.

Comment by FunPomegranate8541 at 03/02/2025 at 19:42 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

We need parks!

Comment by heyitssal at 03/02/2025 at 19:56 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

There are 10,000 people living in downtown Dallas. That's half of Kansas City's downtown population. We need to start making a better downtown and developing where we have low density land before we worry about demolishing a highway. Our downtown density is abysmal--clearing land doesn't fix that.

Comment by IranianLawyer at 03/02/2025 at 20:04 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Okay but what would we do without I-345? Just have a huge gap in the highway and force all the traffic through the smaller streets of downtown? Or we’d need to put I-345 underground.

Comment by z9vown at 03/02/2025 at 20:17 UTC

1 upvotes, 0 direct replies

They removed the "development" in the Sixties to build I-345, and now you propose rebuilding the homes and businesses that were already there.

When does this cycle end?

Comment by Flyboy2057 at 03/02/2025 at 17:02 UTC

0 upvotes, 0 direct replies

Now do one that’s how much space there would be if we teleported DFW to the moon.

It has just as much chance of becoming a reality.

Comment by Foxkit86 at 03/02/2025 at 15:36 UTC

-6 upvotes, 0 direct replies

That would require a red state to have forethought.