Highway 87

Texas Highway 87 once connected Port Arthur to High Island and the Bolivar Peninsula through the McFaddin Wildlife Sanctuary. It allowed motorist to cruise between endless Texas shorelines and pristine salt marshes. Previous storm damage destroyed the road.

Consequently, the road was closed and motorists were forced to travel many miles around the obstacle. The area's protected status has made reconstruction progress slow. Hurricane Rita only aggravated efforts to rebuild the road. Solutions are being considered, but the road remains impassable.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise

The asphalt is washed away near the end of Highway 87 in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge area near Sea Rim Park on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2005.


(Left) An officer with the oil spill division of the Texas General Land Office surveys the area beyond the end of Highway 87 in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge area near Sea Rim Park.

(Below) Exposed sand socks are washed with the tides near a washed-out dune near the end of Highway 87 in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge area near Sea Rim Park.





(Left) A sea shell and chunk of asphalt from Highway 87 coexist on the beach in the McFaddin National Wildlife Refuge area near Sea Rim Park.

(Below) Pieces of Highway 87 mix in the sand in High Island.





A U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service officer patrols the beach near the former Highway 87 route in High Island.