Quebec Autoroute 85

Autoroute 85 is a highway in Quebec that is the connecting link between Rivière-du-Loup and the Quebec-New Brunswick border. It currently intertwines with Route 185, but with new sections of the 185 being upgraded to autoroute standards, this is slowly changing. The main reason for this long needed upgrade is due in part of Route 185, which is infamously known as one of the deadliest roads in Canada and Quebec.

Indeed, although Autoroute 85 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway, it is considered as a North/South axis by Transport Quebec because it runs perpendicular to the Saint Lawrence River.

History

The first section of Autoroute 85 (94 to 100 km) was built in 1972 during the construction of Autoroute 20 and Route 185. However, the northern half of that portion (86 to 94 km) was built to autoroute standards for decades but was until then signed as Route 185. It wasn't until December 9, 2005, when the first portion of the autoroute was extended, rehabilitated, and resigned as Autoroute 85.

Current status

Although some of the new Autoroute 85 sections have been built at a steady pace in recent years, progress has going almost at a snail's pace, but there are hopes for the 85 to be completed by 2018. Some of these new alignments of the four-lane divided highway are currently in the works, however some of them are proving to be quite a challenge.

Currently, Autoroute 85 begins in Saint-Antonin (87 km) and ends 13 km further north at Autoroute 20 near Notre-Dame-du-Portage (100 km). Two small sections of Route 185 have already been converted into autoroute standards near the areas of Dégelis and Notre-Dame-du-Lac. A stretch of 12.2 km between Cabano-Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! northbound lanes has been open since August 23, 2011, including a 6.4 km section which also has been open to traffic since the fall of 2009. The southbound lanes have been open since August 26, 2011. This puts an end to the phase which was to redevelop sections of Dégelis, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! and Saint Antonin. The section between the New Brunswick border and Cabano (Phase 2) is currently under construction. Also, the section between Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! and Saint Antonin (Phase 3) has obtained the government order to commence construction in 2011.

Once the upgrade of Route 185 is complete, the length will be reduced by more than half of its former length (about 50 km or so). Transport Quebec could also decommission Route 185 in its entirety and rename the former parts to another route number. However, indeed that Autoroute 85 will sport a complete length from start to finish of about 100 km, and it will connect Route 2 in New Brunswick to Autoroute 20 near Rivière-du-Loup. At the same time, the Trans-Canada Highway will officially become a continuous divided controlled access highway between Arnprior, Ontario (Highway 417) to New Glasgow, Nova Scotia (Route 104). In addition, this will also complete an even longer inter-provincial freeway spanning four provinces, increasing the total divided highway length by more than 2000 km from Windsor, Ontario to Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Like most other Quebec autoroutes that have been officially designated from a famous deceased member of Quebec, the Quebec government and Transport Quebec are considering dedicating Autoroute 85 in honor of Claude Béchard, a deceased Quebec politician from Kamouraska-Témiscouata.

Exit List

• The exit numbers are based on mileage (in kilometres)

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec" (in French). Transports Québec. http://www1.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/fr/repertoire_autoroute/autoroute.asp. Retrieved 2008-02-23. 
2. ^ Ministère des transports, "Distances routières", page (?), Les Publications du Québec, 2005

External links

• Transport Quebec website
• Transports Quebec Map (French)
• A-85 at Exitlists.com
• A-85 at Quebec Autoroutes
• Press release on A-85 opening