High Island, TX: SH 87 Elevation Project

[Brian556]

Google Satellite View shows project near completion. Road shown as paved and ready for striping. Considering that they raised the road in place, I'm wondering how traffic was maintained during construction. Maybe motorist had to drive on an unpaved surface for a period of time?

https://www.google.com/maps/place/County+Rd+1,+Dunedin,+FL+34698/@29.549286,-94.3907084,375m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x88c2f23c00d8f2a3:0x66674a31c1072c87!8m2!3d28.0293417!4d-82.7624424

[-- US 175 --]

The link points to Florida.

[-- US 175 --]

I guess nothing will be done by TxDOT to "reconnect" the 2 parts of TX 87.  They should at least add or re-sign it along existing roads between High Island and Port Arthur.

https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hou/bolivar-sh87.pdf

[bwana39]

I guess nothing will be done by TxDOT to "reconnect" the 2 parts of TX 87.  They should at least add or re-sign it along existing roads between High Island and Port Arthur.

https://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/hou/bolivar-sh87.pdf

If it were only that easy. TXDOT initially wanted to build a replacement about 1/2 mile from the beach. Environmental concerns threatened suit over impingement onto the McFadden Wildlife Refuge.  Jefferson and Chambers counties would be the ones to force the issue. The choice was made to indefinitely delay any reconstruction.

As to signing a detour route, there isn't really one that fits. The least confusing option would be to renumber SH-87 as SH-124 from High Island to I-45.   That said, everyone (counties and TXDOT) wants to eventually bridge the gap and leave the numbering as it is.   Perhaps in the future, someone somewhere else will spend the money to litigate a precedent that is favorable to reconstruction that would apply here.  At this point litigating the issue is far too expensive versus the benefits of the road.

Another note for detour signing, current maps as well as our GPS knows there is a gap. If you want to go to Sea Rim, you have to follow the east route. If you want to go to High Island, you have to go through Winnie or Galveston Island and the ferry.