U.S. Route 85 in Texas
Encyclopedia
U.S. Highway 85 or US 85 is a route in the system of United States Numbered Highways
maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
. The Texas
portion of US 85 is located entirely within El Paso County beginning at the U.S.-Mexico border between the city of El Paso
and Ciudad Juárez
, Chihuahua. The approximately 20 miles (32 km) route briefly overlays in downtown El Paso, then traverses north along the city's west side before merging with the combined route of Interstate 10
and . The route then follows I-10 and US 180 through the towns of Vinton
and Anthony
before crossing the New Mexico
state line into the town of Anthony, NM
in Doña Ana County
.
US 85 was extended south into Texas in 1946. Prior to the completion of I-10 in El Paso, US 85 followed the former route of which is now .
for northbound traffic and the Good Neighbor International Bridge
for southbound traffic. The international bridges overpass without directly intersecting . The highway follows S. El Paso St. northbound and S. Stanton St. southbound to Paisano Dr.. The route is concurrent
with US 62 from the border to Paisano Dr. where US 85 turns west while US 62 turns east. One block west of S. El Paso St., US 85 intersects S. Santa Fe St. which connects to Loop 375. The route follows Paisano Drive closely following the Rio Grande
and the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad
and the BNSF Railway
west of I-10 and the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso
before Paisano Dr. merges with the combined route of I-10 and US 180. US 85 overlays I-10 and US 180 for the remainder of its length in Texas in greater El Paso's west side and upper valley regions.
US 85 intersects SH 20 at Mesa St. At Artcraft Rd., the route intersects which, together with New Mexico State Road 136, connects the route to the Santa Teresa, NM
international port of entry. The route then intersects Loop 375 connecting the highway to the town of Canutillo
and El Paso's northeast side where Fort Bliss
is located. The highway then leaves El Paso and intersects in Vinton just west of Westway
. In Anthony, the route intersects before crossing the state line into New Mexico.
. AASHO extended the route south to El Paso in 1946.
The original alignment of US 85 in Texas was entirely concurrent with the former route of US 80 beginning at Texas Ave. and following Mesa St. and then Doniphan Dr. to the New Mexico state line along the current SH 20. US 85 was relocated to its current alignment in 1974 after the completion of I-10 in El Paso. The current local TxDOT map shows US 85 terminating on Paisano Dr. at US 62 at S. El Paso St. with no concurrent along US 62 to the border. However, the present route log of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, as AASHO is now known, shows US 85 joining US 62 to the border.
{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile or
Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=9|El Paso
|0
|
MX 45
(Avenida Juárez) / (S. El Paso St.) – Ciudad Juárez
|Southern terminus; begin overlay of US 62
|-
|0.5
| – Carlsbad, NM
|End overlay of US 62
|-
|0.6
|
|
|-
|6.1
|, Carlsbad, NM
|Begin overlay of I-10 and US 180
|-
|12
|Resler Dr.
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; begin using I-10 exit numbers
|-
|11
|
|
|-
|9
|Redd Rd.
|
|-
|8
|
|
|-
|6
|
|
|-
|Vinton
|2
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Anthony
|1
|Rest Area
|Northbound exit and entrance with frontage road access
|-
|0
|
|Final Texas exit
|-
|19.8
|, NM
|Crosses state line into Anthony, NM
in Doña Ana County
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
maintained by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
Texas Department of Transportation
The Texas Department of Transportation is a governmental agency in the U.S. state of Texas. Its stated mission is to "work cooperatively to provide safe, effective and efficient movement of people and goods" throughout the state...
. The Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
portion of US 85 is located entirely within El Paso County beginning at the U.S.-Mexico border between the city of El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
and Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
, Chihuahua. The approximately 20 miles (32 km) route briefly overlays in downtown El Paso, then traverses north along the city's west side before merging with the combined route of Interstate 10
Interstate 10 in Texas
Interstate 10 is the major east–west Interstate Highway in the Southern United States. In the U.S. state of Texas, it runs east from El Paso, near the border with New Mexico, through San Antonio and Houston to the border with Louisiana in Orange, Texas....
and . The route then follows I-10 and US 180 through the towns of Vinton
Vinton, Texas
Vinton is a village in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,892 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Vinton is located at...
and Anthony
Anthony, Texas
Anthony is an incorporated town in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anthony is located at ....
before crossing the New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
state line into the town of Anthony, NM
Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located on the New Mexico–Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley, and on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas...
in Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
.
US 85 was extended south into Texas in 1946. Prior to the completion of I-10 in El Paso, US 85 followed the former route of which is now .
Route description
US 85 begins at the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez at the Paso del Norte International BridgePaso del Norte International Bridge
The Paso del Norte International Bridge is an international bridge which crosses the Rio Grande connecting the United States-Mexico border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua. The bridge is also known as "Paso del Norte Bridge", "Santa Fe Street Bridge", "Puente Benito Juárez",...
for northbound traffic and the Good Neighbor International Bridge
Good Neighbor International Bridge
The Good Neighbor International Bridge, commonly known as the Stanton Street Bridge, is an international bridge connecting the United States-Mexico border cities of El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua across the Rio Grande . The bridge is also known as "Friendship Bridge", "Puente Río...
for southbound traffic. The international bridges overpass without directly intersecting . The highway follows S. El Paso St. northbound and S. Stanton St. southbound to Paisano Dr.. The route is concurrent
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with US 62 from the border to Paisano Dr. where US 85 turns west while US 62 turns east. One block west of S. El Paso St., US 85 intersects S. Santa Fe St. which connects to Loop 375. The route follows Paisano Drive closely following the Rio Grande
Rio Grande
The Rio Grande is a river that flows from southwestern Colorado in the United States to the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way it forms part of the Mexico – United States border. Its length varies as its course changes...
and the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad
Union Pacific Railroad
The Union Pacific Railroad , headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is the largest railroad network in the United States. James R. Young is president, CEO and Chairman....
and the BNSF Railway
BNSF Railway
The BNSF Railway is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., and is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. It is one of seven North American Class I railroads and the second largest freight railroad network in North America, second only to the Union Pacific Railroad, its primary...
west of I-10 and the campus of the University of Texas at El Paso
University of Texas at El Paso
The University of Texas at El Paso is a four-year state university, and is a component institution of the University of Texas System. Its campus is located on the bank of the Rio Grande in El Paso, Texas. The school was founded in 1914 as The Texas State School of Mines and Metallurgy,...
before Paisano Dr. merges with the combined route of I-10 and US 180. US 85 overlays I-10 and US 180 for the remainder of its length in Texas in greater El Paso's west side and upper valley regions.
US 85 intersects SH 20 at Mesa St. At Artcraft Rd., the route intersects which, together with New Mexico State Road 136, connects the route to the Santa Teresa, NM
Santa Teresa, New Mexico
Santa Teresa is a census-designated place in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 2,607 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Las Cruces Metropolitan Statistical Area, although geographically it is considerably closer to El Paso, Texas than to Las Cruces.-Geography:Santa...
international port of entry. The route then intersects Loop 375 connecting the highway to the town of Canutillo
Canutillo, Texas
Canutillo is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 5,129 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Canutillo is located at ....
and El Paso's northeast side where Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss
Fort Bliss is a United States Army post in the U.S. states of New Mexico and Texas. With an area of about , it is the Army's second-largest installation behind the adjacent White Sands Missile Range. It is FORSCOM's largest installation, and has the Army's largest Maneuver Area behind the...
is located. The highway then leaves El Paso and intersects in Vinton just west of Westway
Westway, Texas
Westway is a census-designated place in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,829 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. In Anthony, the route intersects before crossing the state line into New Mexico.
History
US 85 was one of the original U.S. Numbered Highways established by the American Association of State Highway Officials. The first AASHO route log, published in 1927, did not place US 85 in Texas but instead as terminating in Las Cruces, NMLas Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
. AASHO extended the route south to El Paso in 1946.
The original alignment of US 85 in Texas was entirely concurrent with the former route of US 80 beginning at Texas Ave. and following Mesa St. and then Doniphan Dr. to the New Mexico state line along the current SH 20. US 85 was relocated to its current alignment in 1974 after the completion of I-10 in El Paso. The current local TxDOT map shows US 85 terminating on Paisano Dr. at US 62 at S. El Paso St. with no concurrent along US 62 to the border. However, the present route log of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, as AASHO is now known, shows US 85 joining US 62 to the border.
Major intersections
The entire route is in El Paso County.{| class=wikitable
!Location
!Mile or
Exit
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=9|El Paso
El Paso, Texas
El Paso, is a city in and the county seat of El Paso County, Texas, United States, and lies in far West Texas. In the 2010 census, the city had a population of 649,121. It is the sixth largest city in Texas and the 19th largest city in the United States...
|0
|
Mexican Federal Highway 45
Mexican Federal Highway 45 connects Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, to Panales, Hidalgo.It is located in the north of Mexico connecting Portezuelo in Hidalgo to Ciudad Juárez in Chihuahua...
(Avenida Juárez) / (S. El Paso St.) – Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez
Ciudad Juárez , officially known today as Heroica Ciudad Juárez, but abbreviated Juárez and formerly known as El Paso del Norte, is a city and seat of the municipality of Juárez in the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Juárez's estimated population is 1.5 million people. The city lies on the Rio Grande...
|Southern terminus; begin overlay of US 62
|-
|0.5
| – Carlsbad, NM
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435...
|End overlay of US 62
|-
|0.6
|
|
|-
|6.1
|, Carlsbad, NM
Carlsbad, New Mexico
Carlsbad is a city in and the county seat of Eddy County, New Mexico, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 26,138. Carlsbad is the center of the designated micropolitan area of Carlsbad-Artesia, which has a total population of 55,435...
|Begin overlay of I-10 and US 180
|-
|12
|Resler Dr.
|Northbound exit and southbound entrance; begin using I-10 exit numbers
|-
|11
|
|
|-
|9
|Redd Rd.
|
|-
|8
|
|
|-
|6
|
|
|-
|Vinton
Vinton, Texas
Vinton is a village in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,892 at the 2000 census. It is part of the El Paso Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Vinton is located at...
|2
|
|
|-
|rowspan=3|Anthony
Anthony, Texas
Anthony is an incorporated town in El Paso County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,850 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Anthony is located at ....
|1
|Rest Area
|Northbound exit and entrance with frontage road access
|-
|0
|
|Final Texas exit
|-
|19.8
|, NM
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
|Crosses state line into Anthony, NM
Anthony, New Mexico
Anthony is a city in Doña Ana County, New Mexico, USA. The population was 7,904 at the 2000 census. It is located on the New Mexico–Texas state line in the Upper Mesilla Valley, and on Interstate 10, 27 miles south of Las Cruces and 21 miles north of El Paso, Texas...
in Doña Ana County
Doña Ana County, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*74.1% White*1.7% Black*1.5% Native American*1.1% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.0% Two or more races*18.5% Other races*65.7% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...