U.S. Route 87 (Montana)

U.S. Route 87 (Montana) is a major United States Numbered Highway traversing northern Wyoming into central Montana, connecting rural communities, national parks, and military installations over approximately 217 miles. The highway links interstate corridors and regional arterial routes, serving as a conduit between Billings, Miles City, and Great Falls, while intersecting routes to Yellowstone National Park, Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, and the Fort Peck Dam area. U.S. Route 87 passes through landscapes associated with Lewis and Clark Expedition, Montana State University, and Custer County heritage.

Route description

U.S. Route 87 enters Montana from Wyoming near the Bighorn Basin and proceeds toward Billings, intersecting I‑90 and providing access to Pictograph Cave State Park, Yellowstone River, and Beartooth Highway corridors. From Billings the route continues northeast toward Roundup and Miles City, where it meets I‑94 and connects travelers to Fort Keogh and C. M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge. Northeast of Miles City U.S. Route 87 follows the Tongue River and runs near Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument approaches and Crow Agency access roads, before turning northwest toward Levitt and Great Falls, skirting features related to the Milk River and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation. Approaching Great Falls the highway merges with I‑15 and provides connections to Malta westbound corridors, Garrison ferry access, and Giant Springs State Park, terminating within the urban grid near Montana State Capitol environs and the Blackfeet Nation regional transit routes.

History

U.S. Route 87 was designated in the original 1926 plan of the United States Numbered Highway System and has undergone alignments reflecting Federal Aid Highway Act of 1956 projects, local rerouting for I‑90 and I‑94 construction, and wartime supply adjustments linked to Malta Air Force Station and Fort Harrison. Early 20th‑century auto trails in the region tied to the Yellowstone Trail and National Old Trails Road informed the corridor that became U.S. Route 87, while routing decisions involved county seats such as Custer County and Petroleum County representatives. During the Great Depression, Works Progress Administration improvements and Civilian Conservation Corps projects upgraded bridges over the Yellowstone River and reconstructed segments near Fort Peck Lake, later influenced by landmark federal rulings including Nebbia v. New York economic regulation debates that shaped transportation funding. The highway's role expanded with energy developments near Colstrip and agricultural commodity routing to Billings Depot and Northern Pacific Railway interchange facilities. Modern safety upgrades have incorporated standards from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials and environmental assessments related to National Environmental Policy Act reviews near Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Major intersections

- Southern terminus at Wyoming state line, connection to U.S. Route network toward Sheridan and Buffalo. - Junction with I‑90 near Billings, providing access to Yellowstone National Park, Casper, and Spokane. - Concurrency and interchange with US 212 approaching Hardin and connects to Bighorn County sites. - Interchange with I‑94 at Miles City, linking to Minot, Fargo, and Bismarck. - Intersection with US 12 for east–west movements toward Lewistown and Helena. - Crossings with state routes providing access to Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, Fort Peck Indian Reservation, and Crow Agency. - Northern terminus at I‑15 in Great Falls, connecting northward to Canada–United States border crossings and southward to Butte and Salt Lake City via connecting corridors.

Special routes

Various business loops and spur alignments have existed, including a Billings business route paralleling Montana Avenue and a Miles City business alignment through downtown near the Custer County Courthouse, created to serve Montana State University Billings and local commercial districts. Temporary bypass designations appeared during construction near Roundup and the Fillmore area. Military-related spurs provided access to Malta Air Force Station and Malmstrom Air Force Base, while seasonal truck routes have been established for timber operations servicing the Beartooth Mountains and Crazy Mountains. Several decommissioned alignments now function as county roads under Montana Department of Transportation jurisdiction, with signage reflecting transitions to Montana Highway numbers.

Future and planned developments

Planned improvements include reconstruction segments coordinated with Montana Department of Transportation and federal funding under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, focusing on pavement rehabilitation, bridge replacement over the Yellowstone River and Milk River, and safety enhancements near wildlife crossings associated with American Prairie Reserve habitats and National Bison Range connectivity. Proposals consider interchange upgrades at Billings for freight efficiency to serve the Port of Montana agricultural export system and staging for carbon capture projects tied to energy facilities in Rosebud County and Big Horn County. Environmental reviews will involve consultations with the Crow Tribe of Montana and Gros Ventre and Assiniboine tribes under tribal transportation agreements, and project timelines coordinate with regional economic initiatives involving Montana Rail Link and BNSF Railway freight corridors.

Category:U.S. Highways in Montana