Highway 87 opens, but water covers half of road

HIGH ISLAND — State troopers opened state Highway 87 to all traffic, but half of the only road to Bolivar Peninsula remains flooded, authorities said Friday.

The Texas Department of Public Safety closed the highway Wednesday when tides from then-Tropical Storm Alex inundated the low-lying road between Rollover Pass and state Highway 124.

High water and debris made the road impassible and unsafe for drivers as Alex became a hurricane, troopers said.

On Friday, however, the state began allowing people who had picture identification and proof of residency or shop ownership to travel the closed highway, troopers said.

At 12:15 p.m. Friday, troopers opened the road to all traffic, but drivers were being escorted on the westbound lanes until the water receded from the east lanes, the Texas Department of Transportation said.

The highway was the only one closed in Galveston County during the storm.