U.S. Route 87 in Montana#Lewistown

{{about|the section of highway in Montana|the entire length of highway|U.S. Route 87}}

{{Infobox road

|state=MT

|type=US

|route=87

|map={{maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=290|frame-height=290|type=line|from=U.S. Route 87 in Montana.map}}

|map_custom=yes

|map_notes=US 87 highlighted in red

|length_mi=444.376

|length_ref={{cite book |author = Road Inventory and Mapping Section |title = Montana Road Log |date = 2013 |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |location = Helena |pages = 16-18, 63-66, 95-96, 70-72, 95-96, 100-101 |url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |access-date = November 27, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200101223835/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |archive-date = January 1, 2020 }}

|established=1926

|direction_a=South

|terminus_a={{Jct|state=WY|I|90|US|87}} at the Wyoming state line

|junction={{plainlist|

{{jct|state=MT|US|212}} from Crow Agency to Billings
{{jct|state=MT|I|90|I|94}} in Billings
{{jct|state=MT|US|12}} in Roundup.
{{jct|state=MT|US|191}} from Lewistown to Moore
{{jct|state=MT|US|89}} from Armington to Great Falls}}

|direction_b=North

|terminus_b={{jct|state=MT|US|2}} near Havre

|counties=Big Horn, Yellowstone, Musselshell, Petroleum, Fergus, Judith Basin, Cascade, Chouteau, Hill

|previous_type=MT

|previous_route=86

|next_type=MT

|next_route=87

}}

U.S. Highway 87 (US 87) is a north-south United States Numbered Highway in the state of Montana. It extends approximately {{convert|444.4|mi|km}} from the Wyoming state line north to its terminus at US 2 near Havre.

Route description

US 87 enters Montana running concurrently with Interstate 90 (I-90) and travels westward for {{Convert|45.3|mi|km}} to Crow Agency, where US 212 merges with the route. The three routes continue westward for another {{Convert|54.6|mi|km}} to Billings, where it intersects with the western terminus of I-94 in suburban Lockwood. US 87 follows the I-90/US 212 concurrency for another {{Convert|3.3|mi|km}} before it heads north, following Main Street through Billings Heights. US 87 continues north for {{Convert|51|mi|km}} and intersects US 12, sharing a {{Convert|2.1|mi|km|adj=on}} concurrency through Roundup. US 87 continues north with a slight bend to the northwest for {{Convert|44.7|mi|km}} until it intersects Montana State Highway 200 (MT 200) near Grass Range and takes a sharp turn west; US 87 remains concurrent with MT 200 until Great Falls. US 87 and MT 200 travel west for {{Convert|30.6|mi|km}} to Lewistown, where they merge with US 191 and continue heading generally westward. About {{Convert|14.3|mi|km}} west of Lewistown near Moore, it breaks with US 191 and merges with MT 3, where they head northwest for {{Convert|64.7|mi|km}} and merge with US 89 near Armington. The four-route concurrency of US 87/US 89/MT 3/MT 200 continues northwest for {{Convert|22.7|mi|km}} to Great Falls, where US 87 leaves all three and travels north through the city. North of Great Falls, US 87 travels northeast for {{Convert|37.4|mi|km}} to Fort Benton and a final {{Convert|70|mi|km}} to its terminus with US 2, about {{convert|2|mi|km|spell=in}} west of Havre.

History

US 87 originally ran northwest out of Great Falls towards the eastern border of Glacier National Park to the Canadian Border at the Piegan Border Crossing. This was changed in 1934, when US 89 was diverted to US 87's routing north of Great Falls. US 87 ended in Great Falls until {{Circa|1945}} when it was extended to its current northern terminus near Havre.{{cite web |last1 = Sanderson |first1 = Dale |title = End of US Highway 87 |url = http://www.usends.com/87.html |website = US Ends.com |access-date = December 1, 2020 |language = en |date = April 13, 2020 }}{{sps|certain=yes|date=December 2020}}

Major intersections

{{MTint|exit

|county=Big Horn

|cspan=12

|location=none

|lspan=8

|mile=0.000

|exit=—

|road={{Jct|state=WY|I|90|dir1=east|US|87|dir2=south|city1=Casper|location2=Rapid City}}

|notes=Continuation into Wyoming; exit numbers follow I-90

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=6.309

|exit=549

|road=Aberdeen

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=12.181

|exit=544

|road=Wyola

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=25.541

|exit=530

|road={{jct|state=MT|Sec|463|city1=Lodge Grass}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=41.467

|exit=514

|road=Garryowen

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=45.347

|exit=510

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|212|dir1=east|city1=Little Bighorn Battlefield|city2=Broadus}}

|notes=Southern end of US 212 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=47.012

|exit=509

|road=Crow Agency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=52.956

|exit=503

|road=Dunmore

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Hardin

|lspan=2

|mile=58.650

|exit=497

|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|90|dab1=Hardin|dir1=west|name1=Third Street|city1=Hardin}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=60.242

|exit=495

|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|90|dab1=Hardin|dir1=east|MT|47|city1=Hardin City Center}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|lspan=2

|mile=71.778

|exit=484

|road=Frontage Road – Toluca

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=77.541

|exit=478

|road=Fly Creek Road

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Yellowstone

|cspan=6

|location=none

|lspan=2

|mile=86.511

|exit=469

|road=Arrow Creek Road

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=93.973

|exit=462

|road=Pryor Creek Road

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Billings

|lspan=4

|mile=99.973

|exit=456

|road={{jct|state=MT|I|94|dir1=east|city1=Miles City|location2=Bismarck}}

|notes=I-94 exit 0; western terminus of I-94

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=100.842

|exit=455

|road=Johnson Lane – Lockwood

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=103.288

|exit=452

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=MT|I|90|dir1=west|US|212|dir2=west|city1=Butte}}

|notes=Northern end of I-90 / US 212 concurrency; eastern terminus of {{jct|state=MT|BL|90|dab1=Billings|noshield=yes}}; southern end of I-90 Bus. concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=104.552

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=MT|BL|90|dab1=Billings|name1=1st Avenue N|city1=Billings City Center}}

|notes=Northern end of I-90 Bus. concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Musselshell

|cspan=3

|location=Camp Three

|mile=152.198

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|12|dir1=west|city1=Harlowton}}

|notes=Southern end of US 12 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Roundup

|mile=154.266

|type=concur

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|12|dir1=east|city1=Forsyth}}

|notes=Northern end of US 12 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|mile=174.686

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|244|dir1=north|city1=Winnett}}

}}

{{jctco

|state=MT

|county=Petroleum

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Fergus

|cspan=4

|location=none

|type=concur

|mile=198.930

|road={{Jct|state=MT|MT|19|MT|200|dir1=east|dir2=north|city1=Malta|city2=Jordan}}

|notes=Southern end of MT 200 concurrency; southern terminus of MT 19

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Lewistown

|lspan=2

|mile=229.517

|road={{jct|state=MT|US-Byp|87|dab1=Lewistown|US|191|S|238|dir1=north|dir3=south|to2=yes|name1=Truck Bypass|name3=1st Avenue|city1=Great Falls|noshield1=yes}}

|notes=US 87 Byp. is unsigned; former US 191 Bus.

}}

{{MTint|exit

|type=concur

|mile=232.456

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|191|US-Byp|87|dab2=Lewistown|dir1=north|dir2=south|name2=Truck Bypass|noshield2=yes}}

|notes=Southern end of US 191 concurrency; US 87 Byp. is unsigned

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Eddies Corner

|type=concur

|mile=246.791

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|191|MT|3|dir1=south|dir2=south|city1=Harlowton}}

|notes=Northern end of US 191 concurrency; southern end of MT 3 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Judith Basin

|cspan=7

|location=none

|mile=252.944

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|239|dir1=west|city1=Hobson|city2=Utica}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Moccasin

|mile=256.720

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|426|dir1=north}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|lspan=3

|mile=261.737

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|207|dir1=north|city1=Benchland}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=268.684

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|541|dir1=south}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=274.789

|road={{Jct|state=MT|MT|80|dir1=north|city1=Stanford|city2=Fort Benton}}

|notes=MT 80 southern terminus

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Geyser

|mile=290.081

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|551|dir1=north|city1=Geyser}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|mile=300.961

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|427|dir1=south|city1=White Sulphur Springs}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Cascade

|cspan=8

|location=Armington Junction

|type=concur

|mile=311.488

|road={{Jct|state=MT|US|89|dir1=south|city1=Monarch|city2=White Sulphur Springs}}

|notes=Southern end of US 89 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|lspan=2

|mile=315.091

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|331|dir1=north|city1=Belt}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=327.947

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|227|dir1=north|S|228|dir2=south|city1=Sand Coulee|city2=Highwood}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Great Falls

|lspan=5

|mile=330.966

|road={{jct|state=MT|US-Byp|87|dab1=Great Falls|dir1=north|name1=57th Street|location1=Malmstrom AFB}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|type=concur

|mile=334.146

|road={{Jct|state=MT|US|89|MT|3|MT|200|I|15|name3=10th Avenue S|dir1=north|dir2=west|dir3=west|to4=yes}}

|notes=Northern end of US 89 / MT 3 / MT 200 concurrency

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=335.893

|road={{jctname|state=MT|US-Byp|87|dab1=Great Falls|dir1=south|noshield1=yes|name1=River Drive}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=337.008

|road={{Jct|state=MT|I|15|US|89|MT|200|road|Northwest Bypass|dir2=north|dir3=west|to1=yes}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=337.130

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|225|dir1=north|name1=Bootlegger Trail}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Chouteau

|cspan=5

|location=Carter

|mile=360.532

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|564|dir1=north}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|lspan=3

|mile=372.817

|road={{Jct|state=MT|S|386|dir1=east}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=374.400

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|223|MT|80|dir1=north|dir2=south|location1=Tiber Dam|city2=Chester|city3=Fort Benton}}

|notes=MT 80 northern terminus

}}

{{MTint|exit

|mile=376.909

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|387|dir1=south|city1=Fort Benton}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=Big Sandy

|mile=412.379

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|432|S|236|dir1=north|dir2=south|name1=Kenilworth Road|name2=Judith Landing Road}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|county=Hill

|cspan=3

|location=Box Elder

|mile=423.354

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|448|dir1=east}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=none

|mile=434.741

|road={{jct|state=MT|S|334|dir1=south|city1=Rocky Boy's Agency}}

}}

{{MTint|exit

|location=West Havre

|mile=444.376

|road={{jct|state=MT|US|2|city1=Shelby|city2=Havre}}

|notes=US 87 northern terminus

}}

Special routes

The following are special routes of U.S. Route 87 in Montana.

=Great Falls=

{{Infobox road small

|state=MT

|type=US-Byp

|route=87

|location=Great Falls

|length_mi=4.994

|length_ref={{cite book |author = Road Inventory and Mapping Section |title = Montana Road Log |date = 2013 |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |location = Helena |page = 113 |url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |access-date = December 15, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200101223835/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |archive-date = January 1, 2020 }}

}}

U.S. Highway 87 Bypass (US 87 Byp.) exists on the eastern and northern edge of Great Falls. The route begins at 10th Avenue South (US 87/US 89/MT 3/MT 200) west of Malmstrom Air Force Base along 57th Street South and runs south to north. Just south of the intersection with 2nd Avenue North the name of the road changes to 57th Street North. At 10th Avenue North, the street name changes to River Drive North, then curves towards the west as it crosses a bridge over a former Milwaukee Road railroad line. The route heads straight west until after the intersection of North Park Trail where it curves to the northwest. After a railroad crossing and the entrance to Giant Springs State Park and the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, the road curves to the southwest, generally following the south bank of the Missouri River. US 87 Byp. ends at US 87 south of the 15th Street Bridge, but River Drive North continues along the Missouri River through Riverside Park.{{Bing maps |url=https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=ffb7aa53-0247-4682-b797-1688a6196305&cp=47.515075~-111.344525&lvl=13&imgid=be6ae572-094f-4048-a346-3aaa9c26b0ce&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027 |title=Great Falls, Montana |access-date=December 15, 2020}} It is known internally by Montana Department of Transportation as Corridor N-102 (C005205).

=Lewistown=

{{Infobox road small

|state=MT

|type=US-Byp

|route=87

|location=Lewistown

|length_mi=3.253

|length_ref={{cite book |author = Road Inventory and Mapping Section |title = Montana Road Log |date = 2013 |publisher = Montana Department of Transportation |location = Helena |page = 530 |url = http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |access-date = December 19, 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200101223835/http://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/docs/brochures/2013_roadlog.pdf |archive-date = January 1, 2020 }}

}}

U.S. Highway 87 Bypass (US 87 Byp.) in Lewistown, also known as the Truck Bypass, is an unsigned highway follows the northern and western edge of the city. The route begins at Main Street (US 87/MT 200), just east of downtown, and follows 1st Avenue North to Kendall Road (US 191 north), where the roadway turns westward becoming 6th Avenue North and also becomes part of US 191. Just west of Lewistown, the roadway turns southwest and re-joins US 87/MT 200.{{Bing maps |url=https://www.bing.com/maps?osid=28de4d37-10e1-485a-ab48-03f9246e0cb7&cp=47.063512~-109.444147&lvl=15&v=2&sV=2&form=S00027 |title=Lewistown, Montana |access-date=December 19, 2020}} US 87 Byp. is unsigned as the majority of the route is signed as part of US 191. It is known internally by Montana Department of Transportation as part of Corridor N-43 (C000043) and N-75 (C000075).