Editing U.S. Route 87

{{short description|Numbered U.S. Highway in the United States}}
{{Infobox road
|country=USA
|type=US
|route=87
|map={{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=260
|type=line|from=U.S. Route 87 in Texas.map
|type2=line|from2=U.S. Route 87 in New Mexico.map
|type3=line|from3=Interstate 25 in Colorado.map
|type4=line|from4=U.S. Route 87 in Wyoming.map
|type5=line|from5=U.S. Route 87 in Montana.map
}}
|map_custom=yes
|map_notes=US&nbsp;87 highlighted in red
|length_mi=1998
|length_ref={{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
|established=1926{{citation needed|date=February 2018}}
|direction_a=South
|direction_b=North
|terminus_a={{Jct|state=TX|TX|238}} in [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca, TX]]
|junction={{plainlist|
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|35}} at [[San Antonio, Texas|San Antonio, TX]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|10}} from San Antonio to [[Comfort, Texas|Comfort, TX]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|20}} at [[Big Spring, Texas|Big Spring, TX]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|27}} from [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]] to [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo, TX]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|40}} at Amarillo, TX
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|25}} from [[Raton, New Mexico|Raton, NM]] to [[Buffalo, Wyoming|Buffalo, WY]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|70}} at [[Denver, Colorado|Denver, CO]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|80}} at [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne, WY]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|90}} from [[Buffalo, Wyoming|Buffalo, WY]] to [[Billings, Montana|Billings, MT]]
*{{Jct|country=USA|I|15}} in [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls, MT]]
}}
|terminus_b={{Jct|country=USA|US|2}} at [[Havre, Montana|Havre, MT]]
|states=[[Texas]], [[New Mexico]], [[Colorado]], [[Wyoming]], [[Montana]]
}}
[[Image:Raton, NM, from U.S. Hwys. 64 and 87 IMG 4962.JPG|thumb|200px|right|[[Raton, New Mexico|Raton]], [[New Mexico]], as it appears from U.S. Route 87, which becomes [[Interstate 25]]]]

[[Image:U.S. Hwy 87 in Big Spring, TX IMG 1425.JPG|200px|right|thumb|Route 87 as it approaches [[Big Spring, Texas|Big Spring]], [[Texas]], from the south. The Veterans Administration Hospital is shown in the background.]]

[[File:Loma, Montana USA 05.JPG|thumb|200px|Route 87 in background, looking north from [[Loma, Montana]].]]

'''U.S. Highway 87''' ('''US 87''') is a north&ndash;south [[United States highway]] (though it is signed east&ndash;west in [[New Mexico]]) that runs for 1,998 miles (3,215&nbsp;km) from northern [[Montana]] to southern [[Texas]], making it the longest north-south road to not have a "1" in its number and the third longest north-south road in the country, behind [[U.S. Route 41|U.S. 41]] and [[U.S. Route 1|U.S. 1]]. Most of the portion from [[Billings, Montana]] to [[Raton, New Mexico]] is co-signed along [[Interstate 90|Interstates 90]] and [[Interstate 25|25]].  It is also co-signed along the majority of [[Interstate 27]] in Texas. As of 2004, the highway's northern terminus is in [[Havre, Montana]], at [[U.S. Highway 2]]. Its southern terminus is in [[Port Lavaca, Texas]].

==Route description==

===Texas===
{{main|U.S. Route 87 in Texas}}
In Texas, US 87 is a north&ndash;south highway that begins near the [[Gulf Coast]] in [[Port Lavaca, Texas]] and heads north through [[San Antonio]], [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]], [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]], and [[Dalhart, Texas|Dalhart]] to the [[New Mexico]] border near [[Texline, Texas|Texline]].

===New Mexico===
US 87 continues in a northwesterly direction in [[New Mexico]], and is signed by [[NMDOT]] primarily as an east–west route. It merges with [[US 64]] (and thus the [[Santa Fe Trail|Santa Fe Trail National Scenic Byway]]) in [[Clayton, New Mexico|Clayton]], shortly after entering New Mexico. It continues to the northwest until [[Des Moines, New Mexico|Des Moines]], when it takes a more westerly approach to [[Raton, New Mexico|Raton]]. In Raton, it separates from US 64 and merges with [[Interstate 25 in New Mexico|Interstate 25]] and [[U.S. Route 85 in New Mexico|US-85]], with which it remains concurrent through [[Raton Pass]] and into Colorado, though it is unsigned on much of the concurrency.

===Colorado===
{{main|Interstate 25 in Colorado}}
US 87 remains concurrent with [[Interstate 25]] throughout the state of [[Colorado]], which is a rare occurrence for a US highway to have a concurrency with an Interstate in its entirety within state boundaries.

===Wyoming===
US 87 remains concurrent with Interstate 25 northward until exit 160 east of Glenrock where it joins [[US Route 20]]/[[US Route 26]] from Glenrock to Casper. In Casper it splits from US-20/26 and rejoins I-25 at exit 186. It then remains concurrent with Interstate 25 northward until its terminus with [[Interstate 90 in Wyoming|Interstate 90]]. It then follows I-90 west to exit 44 where it runs up to Sheridan. A portion of US-87 has been washed out for several years along this stretch and "temporary" detour signs are posted directing US-87 traffic along [[Wyoming Highway 193]] through Story. In Sheridan US-87 rejoins Interstate 90 into Montana.

===Montana===
{{main|U.S. Route 87 in Montana}}
US 87 remains concurrent with Interstate 90 westward until Billings, where it breaks off and heads north.  Between [[Crow Agency, Montana|Crow Agency]] and Billings, US 87 and I-90 are merged with [[US 212]]. It intersects with (and briefly merges with) [[US 12]] in [[Roundup, Montana|Roundup]] and continues north with a slight bend to the northwest until, at [[Grass Range, Montana|Grass Range]] it takes a sharp turn to the west at an intersection with [[Montana Highway 200|Montana State Highway 200]].  US 87 remains concurrent with Montana State Highway 200 until Great Falls.  In [[Lewistown, Montana|Lewistown]], it merges with [[US 191]] and remains heading generally west. Some ten miles (16&nbsp;km) out of Lewistown, it breaks with US 191 and merges with [[Montana Highway 3|Montana State Highway 3]], heading generally northwest and merging briefly with [[US 89]] before breaking with all three in [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]]. US 87 heads northeast then east to [[Fort Benton, Montana|Fort Benton]] and then generally northeast to its terminus with [[US 2]] about two miles (3&nbsp;km) west of [[Havre, Montana|Havre]].

==History==
{{multiple issues|section=yes|
{{Expand section|date=October 2014}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=October 2014}}
}}

US&nbsp;87 originally ran northwest out of [[Great Falls, Montana]] towards the eastern border of [[Glacier National Park (U.S.)|Glacier National Park]]. US 87 ran to the Canadian Border at the [[Piegan, Montana|Piegan Border Crossing]]. This was changed in 1934, when [[U.S. Route 89|US Route 89]] was diverted to US 87's routing to Glacier Park. US 87 ended in Great Falls until circa 1945 when it was extended to its current northern terminus in [[Havre, Montana]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usends.com/87.html |website=US ENDS |access-date=30 June 2018 |title=End of US Highway 87}}</ref>

'''U.S. Route&nbsp;185''' was formed in 1926, and extended from US&nbsp;85 in [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]] north to [[Orin, Wyoming|Orin]]. It became part of a southern extension and realignment of US&nbsp;87 in 1936.

==Major intersections==
;Texas
: {{jct|state=TX|TX|238}} in [[Port Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca]]
: {{jct|country=USA|Future|69|US|59}} in [[Victoria, Texas|Victoria]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|77}} in Victoria
: {{jct|country=USA|US|183}} in [[Cuero, Texas|Cuero]]. The highways travel concurrently to southwest of Cuero.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|410}} in [[San Antonio]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|10|US|90}} in San Antonio. I-10/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to [[Comfort, Texas|Comfort]]. US&nbsp;87/US&nbsp;90 travels concurrently through San Antonio.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|37|US|281}} in San Antonio
: {{jct|country=USA|I|35|US|90}} in San Antonio. I-35/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently through San Antonio.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|410}} on the [[Balcones Heights, Texas|Balcones Heights]]–San Antonio city line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|290}} in [[Fredericksburg, Texas|Fredericksburg]]. The highways travel concurrently through Fredericksburg.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|377}} northwest of [[Mason, Texas|Mason]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Brady, Texas|Brady]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|190}} in Brady. The highways travel concurrently to Brady.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|283}} northwest of Brady
: {{jct|country=USA|US|83}} in [[Eden, Texas|Eden]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|277}} in [[San Angelo, Texas|San Angelo]]. The highways travel concurrently through San Angelo.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|67|US|277}} in San Angelo
: {{jct|country=USA|I|20}} in [[Big Spring, Texas|Big Spring]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|180}} south of [[Los Ybanez, Texas|Los Ybanez]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Lamesa, Texas|Lamesa]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|380}} in [[Tahoka, Texas|Tahoka]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|27}} in [[Lubbock, Texas|Lubbock]]. The highways travel concurrently to south of [[Kress, Texas|Kress]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|84}} in Lubbock
: {{jct|country=USA|US|62}} in Lubbock
: {{jct|country=USA|US|82}} in Lubbock
: {{jct|country=USA|US|70}} in [[Plainview, Texas|Plainview]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|27}} north-northwest of [[Tulia, Texas|Tulia]]. The highways travel concurrently to south-southeast of [[Happy, Texas|Happy]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|60}} in [[Canyon, Texas|Canyon]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Amarillo, Texas|Amarillo]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|27}} north of Canyon. The highways travel concurrently to Amarillo.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|27|I|40|US|287}} in Amarillo. US&nbsp;87/US&nbsp;287 travels concurrently through Amarillo.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|60}} in Amarillo
: {{jct|country=USA|US|287}} in Amarillo. The highways travel concurrently to [[Dumas, Texas|Dumas]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|385}} in [[Hartley, Texas|Hartley]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Dalhart, Texas|Dalhart]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|54}} in Dalhart
;New Mexico
: {{jct|country=USA|US|56|US|64|US|412}} in [[Clayton, New Mexico|Clayton]]. US&nbsp;64/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to [[Raton, New Mexico|Raton]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|25|US|64|US|85}} in Raton. I-25/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to southeast of [[Glenrock, Wyoming]]. US&nbsp;85/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to [[Fountain, Colorado]].
;Colorado
: {{jct|country=USA|US|160}} in [[Trinidad, Colorado|Trinidad]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Walsenburg, Colorado|Walsenburg]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|50}} in [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]]. The highways travel concurrently through Pueblo.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|85}} in [[Fountain, Colorado|Fountain]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|24}} in [[Colorado Springs, Colorado|Colorado Springs]]. The highways travel concurrently through Colorado Springs.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|85}} in Colorado Springs. The highways travel concurrently to [[Castle Rock, Colorado|Castle Rock]].
: {{jct|country=USA|I|225}} in [[Denver]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|285}} in Denver
: {{jct|country=USA|US|85}} in Denver. The highways travel concurrently through Denver.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|6}} in Denver. The highways travel concurrently through Denver.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|40|US|287}} in Denver
: {{jct|country=USA|I|70|US|6|US|85}} in Denver
: {{jct|country=USA|I|76|dab1=Colorado–Nebraska}} southeast of [[Twin Lakes, Adams County, Colorado|Twin Lakes]]
: {{jct|country=USA|I|270|dab1=Colorado|US|36}} on the Twin Lakes–[[Sherrelwood, Colorado|Sherrelwood]]–[[Welby, Colorado|Welby]] line
: {{jct|country=USA|US|34}} in [[Loveland, Colorado|Loveland]]
;Wyoming
: {{jct|country=USA|I|80}} south-southwest of [[Cheyenne, Wyoming|Cheyenne]]
: {{jct|country=USA|US|30}} southwest of Cheyenne
: {{jct|country=USA|US|85}} in Cheyenne. The highways travel concurrently to [[Ranchettes, Wyoming|Ranchettes]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|26}} west-southwest of [[Dwyer Junction, Wyoming|Dwyer Junction]]. The highways travel concurrently to the [[Casper, Wyoming|Casper]]–[[Hartrandt, Wyoming|Hartrandt]] city line.
: {{jct|country=USA|US|18|US|20}} in [[Orin, Wyoming|Orin]]. US&nbsp;20/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to the Casper–Hartrandt city line.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|25}} in Casper. The highways travel concurrently to north-northeast of [[Buffalo, Wyoming|Buffalo]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|16}} in Buffalo
: {{jct|country=USA|I|25|I|90}} north-northeast of Buffalo. I-90/US&nbsp;87 travels concurrently to [[Lockwood, Montana|Lockwood]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|14}} in [[Sheridan, Wyoming|Sheridan]]. The highways travel concurrently to northeast of [[Ranchester, Wyoming|Ranchester]].
;Montana
: {{jct|country=USA|US|212}} in [[Crow Agency, Montana|Crow Agency]]. The highways travel concurrently to Lockwood.
: {{jct|country=USA|I|94}} in Lockwood
: {{jct|country=USA|US|12}} north of [[Klein, Montana|Klein]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Roundup, Montana|Roundup]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|191}} in [[Lewistown, Montana|Lewistown]]. The highways travel concurrently to west-northwest of [[Moore, Montana|Moore]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|89}} south-southeast of [[Armington, Montana|Armington]]. The highways travel concurrently to [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]].
: {{jct|country=USA|US|2}} northeast of [[Herron, Montana|Herron]]

==See also==

===Related routes===
* [[U.S. Highway 187]] (decommissioned)
* [[U.S. Highway 287]]

===Bannered and suffixed routes===
*[[U.S. Route 87 Business (Cheyenne, Wyoming)|U.S. Route 87 Business]] in [[Cheyenne, Wyoming]]
*[[U.S. Route 87 Business (Wheatland, Wyoming)|U.S. Route 87 Business]] in [[Wheatland, Wyoming]]
*[[U.S. Route 87 Business (Casper, Wyoming)|U.S. Route 87 Business]] in [[Casper, Wyoming]]
*[[U.S. Route 87 Business (Buffalo, Wyoming)|U.S. Route 87 Business]] in [[Buffalo, Wyoming]]
*[[U.S. Route 87 Bypass (Great Falls, Montana)|U.S. Route 87 Bypass]] in [[Great Falls, Montana]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|U.S. Route 87}} 
*[http://usends.com/87.html Endpoints of U.S. Highway 87]

{{US Highways}}

{{start srbox}}
{{co browse|previous_type=SH|previous_route=86|route=[[state highways in Colorado|CO]]|next_type=SH|next_route=88}}
{{mt browse|previous_type=MT|previous_route=86|route=[[List of Montana numbered highways|MT]]|next_type=MT|next_route=87}}
{{tx browse|previous_type=SH|previous_route=86|route=[[Texas state highways|TX]]|next_type=SH|next_route=87}}
{{wy browse|previous_type=US|previous_route=85|route=[[State highways in Wyoming|WY]]|next_type=US|next_route=89}}
{{wy browse|previous_type=I|previous_route=180|route=[[File:US 185.svg|25px]][[State highways in Wyoming|WY]]|next_type=US|next_route=189}}
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{{wy browse|previous_type=WY|previous_route=345|route=[[File:WY-346.svg|20px]][[State highways in Wyoming|WY]]|next_type=WY|next_route=350}}
{{s-end}}

[[Category:U.S. Route 87| ]]
[[Category:United States Numbered Highway System|87]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in Wyoming|87]]
[[Category:U.S. Highways in New Mexico|87]]
[[Category:Interstate 10|087]]
[[Category:Interstate 27|087]]