Oklahoma State Highway 87
Encyclopedia
State Highway 87 is a highway in southeastern Oklahoma
, running for 14.58 miles (23.5 km). It passes through the extreme southeastern corner of the state, running entirely through McCurtain Co.
. It has no lettered spur routes.
SH-87 begins at an intersection with US-259 near the unincorporated community of Harris, about 1 mile (1.6 km) from the Red River. SH-87 heads east from here, proceeding along many curves. The highway is two-lane for its entire length, and much of it is very narrow with no shoulders (though a short stretch of highway that was realigned to approach a new girder bridge
that replaced an old through truss bridge
was built with shoulders). The highway crosses no major rivers, but does bridge Walnut Bayou. SH-87 ends at the Arkansas
state line, where it becomes Arkansas Highway 108
.
SH-87 is shown on the Oklahoma state highway map as concurrent
with US-259 to at least Idabel
. However, this is an error, as the highway is only signed from US-259 to the Arkansas state line, and is shown on ODOT's internal control section maps as ending at US-259.
By 1948, SH-87 was extended, setting its eastern terminus at its present location at the Arkansas state line. However, this terminus proved to be temporary at first, as the highway was rerouted to turn north to end at SH-21 (now SH-3) in Tom
in 1952. However, by 1957, the state line terminus had been reestablished, and SH-87 has ended there to the present day.
In the early 1960s, SH-87's length was at its zenith, as the highway stretched from Idabel to the Arkansas state line. However, on 1963-01-07, US-259 was established. The section of SH-87 from Idabel through Harris was turned over to the new U.S. route, setting the western terminus of the highway to its present-day location.
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
, running for 14.58 miles (23.5 km). It passes through the extreme southeastern corner of the state, running entirely through McCurtain Co.
McCurtain County, Oklahoma
McCurtain County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2010, the population was 33,151. Its county seat is Idabel.-Geography:...
. It has no lettered spur routes.
Route description
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
that replaced an old through truss bridge
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
was built with shoulders). The highway crosses no major rivers, but does bridge Walnut Bayou. SH-87 ends at the Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
state line, where it becomes Arkansas Highway 108
Arkansas Highway 108
Arkansas Highway 108 is a state highway composed of two segments in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The northern segment begins as a continuation of State Highway 87 near the extreme southeastern corner of Oklahoma. The northern segment ends at U.S. Highway 59 and U.S....
.
SH-87 is shown on the Oklahoma state highway map as concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US-259 to at least Idabel
Idabel, Oklahoma
Idabel is a city in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of McCurtain County. The town is located in the tourist area Kiamichi Country.-History:...
. However, this is an error, as the highway is only signed from US-259 to the Arkansas state line, and is shown on ODOT's internal control section maps as ending at US-259.
History
State Highway 87 first appeared on the June 1944 state highway map. When it was originally commissioned, the highway was a spur route; its western end was in Idabel, and its eastern end was approximately the location of the present-day US-259–SH-87 intersection. Towards the end of its route, SH-87 served Harris.By 1948, SH-87 was extended, setting its eastern terminus at its present location at the Arkansas state line. However, this terminus proved to be temporary at first, as the highway was rerouted to turn north to end at SH-21 (now SH-3) in Tom
Tom, Oklahoma
Tom is a small unincorporated community in McCurtain County, Oklahoma, United States. The post office was established in 1916 and named for Tom Stewart, an early settler. It is the southeastern-most community in Oklahoma....
in 1952. However, by 1957, the state line terminus had been reestablished, and SH-87 has ended there to the present day.
In the early 1960s, SH-87's length was at its zenith, as the highway stretched from Idabel to the Arkansas state line. However, on 1963-01-07, US-259 was established. The section of SH-87 from Idabel through Harris was turned over to the new U.S. route, setting the western terminus of the highway to its present-day location.