If you went through Conroe and then to Huntsville, you saw Hwy. 45 under construction all the way to Huntsville, with long parts in narrow two lanes with concrete walls on both sides. Have to concentrate to stay in your narrow lane because drifting will take you into another car. If we have a hurricane this year, that long highway under construction will be backed up for 40 miles all the way back to Houston if millions try to get out again. I don't know if it is also under construction past Huntsville to the north.
I cannot remember a time when 45 N was not under construction. A family friend lived in Huntsville, for a while, and would come the back way to visit us (through College Station down to Hempstead/Brookshire route.)
The backroads certainly helped us during the Rita debacle.