Quebec Autoroute 85
Encyclopedia
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
.
{| class="wikitable"
|+Construction History
|-
!width="10%"|km
!width="10%"|Year
!width="65%"|Notes
|-
|0-14
|Under Construction
|New Brunswick (Route 2
) to Dégelis
|-
|14-15
|2004
|Dégelis
|-
|15-29
|Under Construction
|Dégelis to Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac)
|-
|29-30
|2002
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac)
|-
|36-38
|2009
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Cabano)
|-
|38-44
|2011
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Cabano) to St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
|-
|44-48
|2009
|St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
|-
|86-94
|2005
|St-Antonin to Rivière-du-Loup (Route 185 converted to autoroute standards)
|-
|94-100
|1972
|From Rivière-du-Loup to
Autoroute 20
West (Historic section of Route 185)
|}
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
.
Indeed, although Autoroute 85 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
, it is considered as a North/South axis by Transport Quebec because it runs perpendicular to the Saint Lawrence River
Saint Lawrence River
The Saint Lawrence is a large river flowing approximately from southwest to northeast in the middle latitudes of North America, connecting the Great Lakes with the Atlantic Ocean. It is the primary drainage conveyor of the Great Lakes Basin...
.
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.{| class="wikitable"
|+Construction History
|-
!width="10%"|km
!width="10%"|Year
!width="65%"|Notes
|-
|0-14
|Under Construction
|New Brunswick (Route 2
New Brunswick Route 2
Route 2 is a major provincial highway in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, carrying the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway in the province...
) to Dégelis
|-
|14-15
|2004
|Dégelis
|-
|15-29
|Under Construction
|Dégelis to Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac)
|-
|29-30
|2002
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac)
|-
|36-38
|2009
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Cabano)
|-
|38-44
|2011
|Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Cabano) to St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
|-
|44-48
|2009
|St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
|-
|86-94
|2005
|St-Antonin to Rivière-du-Loup (Route 185 converted to autoroute standards)
|-
|94-100
|1972
|From Rivière-du-Loup to
Autoroute 20Quebec Autoroute 20
Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec...
West (Historic section of Route 185)
|}
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
Claude Béchard
Claude Béchard was a politician in Quebec, Canada. He served as Quebec Liberal Party Member of the National Assembly for the riding of Kamouraska-Témiscouata in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region; as Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as well as the Minister for Canadian Intergovermental...
, a deceased Quebec politician from Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Kamouraska-Témiscouata
Kamouraska-Témiscouata is a provincial electoral district in Quebec, Canada that elects members to the National Assembly of Quebec. The riding was created in 1972 from Kamouraska and parts of L'Islet and Témiscouata...
.
Exit List
Route 185 (future A-85)  |
|||||
| County | Location | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Témiscouata | Dégelis | 0.0 | Québec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... -New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... Border, Route 185 Quebec route 185 Route 185 is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. It travels from Saint-Antonin, Quebec to Edmundston, New Brunswick, a distance of about . It connects Autoroute 85 and New Brunswick Route 2.... connects to  Route 2New Brunswick Route 2 Route 2 is a major provincial highway in the Canadian province of New Brunswick, carrying the main route of the Trans-Canada Highway in the province... in New Brunswick New Brunswick New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area... |
||
| 14 | Route 295 Quebec route 295 Route 295 is a 98 km two-lane north/south highway in Quebec, Canada, which starts in Saint-Jean-de-Dieu at the junction of Route 293 and ends in Dégelis at the junction of Route 185.-List of Towns along Route 295:* Saint-Jean-de-Dieu* Sainte-Rita... , Dégelis, 7e Rue, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, Quebec Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande is a municipality in Quebec.... , Saint-Juste-du-Lac Saint-Juste-du-Lac, Quebec Saint-Juste-du-Lac is a municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in the Témiscouata Regional County Municipality. The municipality had a population of 653 in the Canada 2006 Census.-External links:... |
||||
| 15 | Packington Packington Packington is a village and civil parish in the district of North West Leicestershire. It is situated close to the A42 road and the town of Ashby de la Zouch. The population of Packington according to the 2001 UK census is 738... , Avenue Principale Nord |
Northbound only | |||
| Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is a municipality in Québec situated in the MRC of Témiscouata in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The city was created on May 5, 2010 from the mergers of the city of Cabano and Notre-Dame-du-Lac.- Geography :... (Notre-Dame-du-Lac Notre-Dame-du-Lac Notre-Dame-du-Lac may refer to:* Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec* Notre-Dame-du-Lac Church in Le Thor, Vaucluse, France* Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac in Oka, Quebec* University of Notre Dame du Lac, full name... ) |
29 | Saint-Eusèbe Saint-Eusèbe Saint-Eusèbe may refer to:*Saint-Eusèbe, Haute-Savoie, a commune in the French region of Rhône-Alpes*Saint-Eusèbe, Saône-et-Loire, a commune in the French region of Bourgogne*Saint-Eusèbe, Quebec, a municipality in the province of Québec... , Notre-Dame-du-Lac Notre-Dame-du-Lac Notre-Dame-du-Lac may refer to:* Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Quebec* Notre-Dame-du-Lac Church in Le Thor, Vaucluse, France* Abbey of Notre-Dame du Lac in Oka, Quebec* University of Notre Dame du Lac, full name... , Rue de l'Église |
|||
| 30 | Rue Commerciale Nord | Northbound only | |||
| Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac is a municipality in Québec situated in the MRC of Témiscouata in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. The city was created on May 5, 2010 from the mergers of the city of Cabano and Notre-Dame-du-Lac.- Geography :... (Cabano) |
37 | Route 232 Quebec route 232 Route 232 is a two-lane east/west provincial highway on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Eastern Quebec, Canada. Its eastern terminus is in Rimouski at the junction of Route 132 and the western terminus is at the junction of Route 289 in Rivière-Bleue... West, Rue Parc-Industriel, Pohénégamook, Rivière-Bleue Rivière-Bleue, Quebec Rivière-Bleue is a municipality in Quebec with more or less 1500 inhabitants. The municipality is located in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region on the border of the province of New-Brunswick and the state of Maine, USA.- History :The first settlers arrived in 1860... |
|||
| 40 | Route 232 Quebec route 232 Route 232 is a two-lane east/west provincial highway on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Eastern Quebec, Canada. Its eastern terminus is in Rimouski at the junction of Route 132 and the western terminus is at the junction of Route 289 in Rivière-Bleue... East, Rue du Domaine, Rimouski, Saint-Michel-du-Squatec Saint-Michel-du-Squatec, Quebec Saint-Michel-du-Squatec is a parish municipality in the Canadian province of Quebec, located in the Témiscouata Regional County Municipality.... |
||||
| Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! | 47 | Rue Raymond, Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Saint-Elzéar-de-Témiscouata Saint-Elzéar-de-Témiscouata, Quebec Saint-Elzéar-de-Témiscouata is a municipality in Quebec.... |
|||
| Autoroute 85 |
||||||
| County | Location | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivière-du-Loup | Saint-Antonin Saint-Antonin -In France:*Saint-Antonin, Alpes-Maritimes, in the Alpes-Maritimes département*Saint-Antonin, Gers, in the Gers département*Saint-Antonin-de-Lacalm, in the Tarn département*Saint-Antonin-de-Sommaire, in the Eure département... |
89 | Saint-Antonin Saint-Antonin -In France:*Saint-Antonin, Alpes-Maritimes, in the Alpes-Maritimes département*Saint-Antonin, Gers, in the Gers département*Saint-Antonin-de-Lacalm, in the Tarn département*Saint-Antonin-de-Sommaire, in the Eure département... , Rue Principale |
47.782232°N 69.464825°W | ||
| 90 | Saint-Modeste Saint-Modeste, Quebec Saint-Modeste is a parish municipality in Quebec.... , Saint-Antonin Saint-Antonin -In France:*Saint-Antonin, Alpes-Maritimes, in the Alpes-Maritimes département*Saint-Antonin, Gers, in the Gers département*Saint-Antonin-de-Lacalm, in the Tarn département*Saint-Antonin-de-Sommaire, in the Eure département... , 1st Rank |
Southbound only | 47.789475°N 69.475662°W | |||
| Rivière-du-Loup | 93 | A-20 Quebec Autoroute 20 Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec... East, Route 191 Quebec Route 191 Quebec Route 191 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Quebec. This route provides a link connecting Quebec Autoroute 20 and Quebec Autoroute 85 from Rivière-du-Loup and Cacouna and a direct link for areas east of Rivière-du-Loup towards the southern part of the Bas-Saint-Laurent... , Rivière-du-Loup, Boulevard Industriel, Rimouski |
47.808716°N 69.503953°W | |||
| 96 | Ch. Fraserville, Rivière-du-Loup | 47.81358°N 69.5332°W | ||||
| 98 | Halte Routière de Fraserville | Northbound only | 47.810705°N 69.55175°W | |||
| Notre-Dame-du-Portage Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Quebec Notre-Dame-du-Portage is a village in the Canadian Province of Quebec located at the edge of the Saint Lawrence River in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region... |
100 | A-20 Quebec Autoroute 20 Autoroute 20 is a major Quebec Autoroute, following the Saint Lawrence River through one of the more densely-populated parts of Canada, and is part of the Trans-Canada Highway. At , it is the longest Autoroute in Quebec... West, Québec City |
Northbound only | 47.791708°N 69.577661°W | ||
- The exit numbers are based on mileage (in kilometres)