Connecticut Route 87
Encyclopedia
Route 87 is a Connecticut
state highway running from Franklin
to Andover
, generally in a southeast-northwest direction. The route is part of the road connecting the towns of Norwich
, Lebanon
, Columbia
, and Andover. Route 87 is a two-lane rural collector road for its entire length.
, just northwest of the Yantic neighborhood of Norwich
. It heads northwest across the Susquetonscut Brook and railroad tracks, briefly crossing into Bozrah
(for 0.18 miles), before re-entering Franklin. The road runs for another 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in the southwest part of Franklin then enters the town of Lebanon
, where the road name becomes Trumbull Highway. Route 87 heads directly into the town center where it has a junction with Route 207. About a mile further, Route 289 splits off heading north towards Willimantic
while Route 87 continues northwest towards Columbia
. At the Columbia town center, it intersects with Route 66
. North of the town center, Route 87 skirts the north shore of Columbia Lake before crossing into the town of Andover
. Route 87 ends about half a mile from the town line at an intersection with US 6. Westbound US 6 continues directly into the Andover town center.
in October 1795, and was called the Hartford, New London, Windham, and Tolland County Turnpike. The toll road was in operation for about 40 years.
In 1922, when Connecticut first numbered its state highways, the route of the old turnpike was designated as State Highway 168. Modern Route 87 was established in 1932 as a renumbering of old State Highway 168 and originally ended in Bolton
like the old turnpike, approximately at the current intersection of US 6 and US 44
. In 1934, the Bolton Notch to Andover portion became part of U.S. Route 6A (later to become US 6) and Route 87 was truncated to its current northern end.
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
state highway running from Franklin
Franklin, Connecticut
Franklin is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,835 at the 2000 census. The town also includes the village of North Franklin.-Geography:...
to Andover
Andover, Connecticut
Andover is a rural town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,303 at the 2010 census.Andover was incorporated on May 18, 1848, from Hebron and Coventry.-Geography:...
, generally in a southeast-northwest direction. The route is part of the road connecting the towns of Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
, Lebanon
Lebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
, Columbia
Columbia, Connecticut
Columbia is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Columbia was incorporated in May, 1804, from Lebanon. Columbia offers prekindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a...
, and Andover. Route 87 is a two-lane rural collector road for its entire length.
Route description
Route 87 begins as Norwich-Lebanon Road at an intersection with Route 32 in the southeast corner of the town of FranklinFranklin, Connecticut
Franklin is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,835 at the 2000 census. The town also includes the village of North Franklin.-Geography:...
, just northwest of the Yantic neighborhood of Norwich
Norwich, Connecticut
Regular steamship service between New York and Boston helped Norwich to prosper as a shipping center through the early part of the 20th century. During the Civil War, Norwich once again rallied and saw the growth of its textile, armaments, and specialty item manufacturing...
. It heads northwest across the Susquetonscut Brook and railroad tracks, briefly crossing into Bozrah
Bozrah, Connecticut
Bozrah is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 2,357 at the 2000 census. Bozrah contains three villages: Fitchville, the town center; Leffingwell, a crossroads on Route 82; and Gilman, a mill village along Fitchville Road....
(for 0.18 miles), before re-entering Franklin. The road runs for another 3.5 miles (5.6 km) in the southwest part of Franklin then enters the town of Lebanon
Lebanon, Connecticut
Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford...
, where the road name becomes Trumbull Highway. Route 87 heads directly into the town center where it has a junction with Route 207. About a mile further, Route 289 splits off heading north towards Willimantic
Willimantic, Connecticut
Willimantic is a census-designated place and former city located in the town of Windham in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was estimated at 15,823 at the 2000 census. It is home to Eastern Connecticut State University, as well as the Windham Textile and History Museum....
while Route 87 continues northwest towards Columbia
Columbia, Connecticut
Columbia is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Columbia was incorporated in May, 1804, from Lebanon. Columbia offers prekindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a...
. At the Columbia town center, it intersects with Route 66
Route 66 (Connecticut)
Route 66 is a Connecticut state highway running from Meriden to Windham, serving as an alternate east–west route to US 6 through east-central Connecticut.- Route description:...
. North of the town center, Route 87 skirts the north shore of Columbia Lake before crossing into the town of Andover
Andover, Connecticut
Andover is a rural town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,303 at the 2010 census.Andover was incorporated on May 18, 1848, from Hebron and Coventry.-Geography:...
. Route 87 ends about half a mile from the town line at an intersection with US 6. Westbound US 6 continues directly into the Andover town center.
Special designations
Route 87, over its entire length, is one of the last remaining sections of the Jonathan Trumbull Highway.History
The road between Norwich and Bolton Notch, through the town centers of Lebanon, Columbia, Andover, and Bolton, was chartered as a turnpikeToll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
in October 1795, and was called the Hartford, New London, Windham, and Tolland County Turnpike. The toll road was in operation for about 40 years.
In 1922, when Connecticut first numbered its state highways, the route of the old turnpike was designated as State Highway 168. Modern Route 87 was established in 1932 as a renumbering of old State Highway 168 and originally ended in Bolton
Bolton, Connecticut
Bolton is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 5,017 at the 2000 census. Bolton was incorporated in October 1720 and is governed by town meeting.-History:...
like the old turnpike, approximately at the current intersection of US 6 and US 44
U.S. Route 44
U.S. Route 44 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 237 miles through four states in the Northeastern region of the United States. The western terminus is at U.S. Route 209 and New York State Route 55 in Kerhonkson, a hamlet in the Hudson Valley region of New York...
. In 1934, the Bolton Notch to Andover portion became part of U.S. Route 6A (later to become US 6) and Route 87 was truncated to its current northern end.
Junction list
| Town | Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Franklin, Connecticut Franklin is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 1,835 at the 2000 census. The town also includes the village of North Franklin.-Geography:... |
0.00 | ||
| Lebanon Lebanon, Connecticut Lebanon is a town in New London County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 6,907 at the 2000 census. The town lies just to the northwest of Norwich, north of New London, and east of Hartford... |
6.55 | ||
| 7.46 | |||
| Columbia Columbia, Connecticut Columbia is a town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 4,971 at the 2000 census. Columbia was incorporated in May, 1804, from Lebanon. Columbia offers prekindergarten through 8th grade education in town at Horace W. Porter School, while high school students have a... |
13.29 | ||
| Andover Andover, Connecticut Andover is a rural town in Tolland County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 3,303 at the 2010 census.Andover was incorporated on May 18, 1848, from Hebron and Coventry.-Geography:... |
16.62 |