State Road 87

Florida State Road 87 joins Navarre in southern Santa Rosa County and I-10/U.S. 90 in the Milton vicinity. SR 87 is also a hurricane evacuation route, extending north to the Escambia County, Alabama line beyond Berrydale. The 47.13 mile long state road provides the only route northward from the Emerald Coast between Midway and Fort Walton Beach.

Florida State Road 87 Guides

North - 82 photos

South - 53 photos

Widening of State Road 87 from the south end of Eglin A.F.B. to Five Forks Road north of Navarre commenced in August 2010. Completion of the four-laning was slated for Winter 2012, but amended in January 2013 to Summer 2013. Additional widening along another five mile stretch from the south boundary of Eglin AFB to a point two miles south of the Yellow River, commenced on August 17, 2015. The $18.4 million project ran through Spring 2017.¹

The first project expanding SR 87 to four lanes commenced on August 26, 2002 from U.S. 98 in Navarre to a point just north of Five Forks Road. That phase ran $2.2 million over budget and was completed on May 10, 2006, a year and eight months beyond its scheduled completion. The last of five widening projects commenced on January 4, 2016 along a five mile stretch from CR 184A / Hickory Hammock Road to U.S. 90. Costing $31.5 million, work wrapped by the week of July 8, 2019. Overall the five phase widening of SR 87 totaled $101.6 million.²

scenes

Approaching the intersection of SR 87 and County Road 399 (East Bay Boulevard) on Turkey Bluff Road west in Navarre. Four-laning of SR 87 in the 2000s realigned Turkey Bluff Road to end opposite CR 399.

05/26/12

Turkey Bluff Road ends as County Road 399 (East Bay Boulevard) westbound begins. SR 87 travels a short distance south to end at U.S. 98 opposite Santa Rosa Sound. Holley and Milton are to the north.

05/26/12

A remnant SR 87 shield leftover from when Berryhill Road was a County Road appears along Berryhill Street west at Stewart Street (SR 87).

05/03/09

SR 87 shield posted at the west end of North Avenue in Milton. North Avenue represents the historic northern extent of State Secondary 87A through Milton. The former route traveled south along Alabama Street, from North Avenue to Berryhill Street, and along Canal Street from Berryhill Street to U.S. 90 (Caroline Street).

02/07/06

References:

"Construction Beginning on State Road 87 in Santa Rosa County." Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), press release. August 12, 2015.
"It's finally done: 17 years and $101 million later, State Road 87 construction is complete." Pensacola News Journal (FL), July 3, 2019.