Arizona State Route 87

Arizona State Route 87 is a north–south state highway traversing central and northern Arizona, connecting the eastern Phoenix metropolitan area with the Navajo Nation plateau. The route links suburban and rural communities including Mesa, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Payson, and Heber-Overgaard, serving as a corridor between the Valley of the Sun and the Mogollon Rim. It intersects major corridors such as Interstate 10, U.S. Route 60, and U.S. 60, and passes near landmarks like the Tonto National Forest, Salt River, and Four Peaks volcanic cluster.

Route description

The highway begins in Mesa near the confluence of urban arterials that include U.S. 60, Loop 202, SR 202, and the SR 24 corridor, threading through suburban nodes such as Tempe and Scottsdale adjacent to the Arizona State University research and medical complexes. Proceeding north, it skirts the McDowell Mountains, providing access to recreational sites like McDowell Mountain Regional Park and Saguaro Lake near the Salt River. The alignment continues into Tonto Basin terrain, traversing the Tonto National Forest and crossing tributaries that feed Roosevelt Lake before ascending the Mogollon Rim toward Payson, intersecting routes that lead to Globe and Show Low. North of Payson, the highway passes through pueblos and communities tied to the Apache and Navajo Nation, connecting to Heber-Overgaard and terminating near Second Mesa on the Navajo Nation plateau. Along its course the road transitions from multi-lane urban freeway sections adjacent to Sky Harbor influences to two-lane rural highway through piñon-juniper woodlands and ponderosa pine stands near Lumberyard Flat and Cibecue.

History

The corridor originated from early 20th-century territorial trails linking Phoenix with eastern highlands frequented by Route 66 travelers and Santa Fe Railway freight routes. During the New Deal era, federal and state investments, influenced by agencies such as the Works Progress Administration and the Civilian Conservation Corps, improved segments providing access to Tonto National Forest recreation areas and the Roosevelt Dam project. Post-World War II motorization, alongside developments like Luke Air Force Base expansions and the growth of Phoenix Metro suburbs, spurred paving and realignment. In the 1960s and 1970s, coordination with the Arizona Department of Transportation and federal highway programs led to upgrades near Mesa and interchanges with Interstate 10 and U.S. 60. Environmental and tribal consultations in the late 20th and early 21st centuries addressed impacts on Gila River Indian Community lands and on cultural sites associated with the Hopi and Navajo Nation, shaping routing and mitigation measures. Recent decades have seen incremental widening, safety curve flattening, and resurfacing projects reflecting guidelines from organizations such as the Federal Highway Administration and standards articulated in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

Major intersections

Major intersections along the route include its southern terminus near U.S. 60 and connections to Loop 202 and SR 202 in the Mesa area; an interchange with Arizona State Route 87 (Arizona)#Casino? — note: this entry is reserved for state maintenance notes; crossings with SR 88 (Apache Trail) that provide routes to Apache Junction and the Superstition Mountains; junctions with SR 188 near Roosevelt Lake granting access to Globe; connections with county and forest roads near Payson linking to Tonto Basin and Show Low corridors; and northern termini connecting to reservation roads on the Navajo Nation. The highway meets several U.S. and state routes facilitating travel to Flagstaff, Sedona, Prescott, and Tucson via regional networks such as U.S. Route 180, SR 260, and Interstate 17.

Future and improvements

Planned improvements by the Arizona Department of Transportation and county agencies aim to address congestion in the Phoenix metropolitan area and safety on rural stretches. Projects under consideration include corridor widening near Mesa and Fountain Hills to accommodate commuter flows from suburbs like Gilbert and Chandler, intersection upgrades influenced by traffic models used by the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for Maricopa County, and ecological mitigation measures near Tonto National Forest and Salt River habitats in coordination with agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. Long-range concepts explore limited-access bypasses, wildlife crossings informed by studies from Arizona State University and University of Arizona researchers, and collaboration with tribal governments including the Gila River Indian Community and the Navajo Nation for route stewardship and cultural resource protection.

Special designations and features

Sections of the highway carry scenic and commemorative designations linking to regional identity, recreational access, and historic preservation efforts. The corridor provides primary access to the Four Peaks Wilderness, Saguaro Lake recreation area, and trailheads associated with the Mormon Lake, Coconino National Forest, and Mogollon Rim systems. Safety programs along the route incorporate standards promoted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and incorporate interpretive signage for tribal histories involving the Hopi and Navajo Nation. Design features include desert-vegetation revegetation projects, rockwork and guardrail retrofits to address washouts and monsoon-season hazards, and milepost and wayfinding systems interoperable with regional emergency services such as Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and Gila County Sheriff's Office for rapid response.

Category:State highways in Arizona