Quebec Autoroute 85
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autoroute Claude-Béchard | ||||
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| Route information | ||||
| Maintained by Transports Québec | ||||
| Length: | 58.0 km[1][2] (36.0 mi) | |||
| Existed: | 2005[2] – present | |||
| Major junctions | ||||
| North end: |
  A-20 (TCH) near Rivière-du-Loup | |||
| Rue Fraserville, Rivière-du-Loup | ||||
| South end: |
.png){kind=small} Route 2 (TCH) in Dégelis | |||
| Location | ||||
| Major cities: | Rivière-du-Loup & Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac | |||
| Highway system | ||||
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Autoroute 85 is a Quebec Autoroute and part of the Trans-Canada Highway in the province's Bas-Saint-Laurent region. It is currently under construction with committed Federal and Provincial funding for its completion, with an estimated completion date of 2025.[3] Running between Rivière-du-Loup (at a junction with Autoroute 20) and a junction with New Brunswick Route 2 at the Quebec-New Brunswick border, the A-85 when complete will be the only controlled access highway link between the Maritime Provinces and the rest of the country. The A-85 is projected to be approximately 100 km (60 mi) long when construction is complete and is intended to replace Route 185, which has been called one of the deadliest highways in Canada.[4]
Currently there are two completed sections of the A-85. Constructed in 1970, the first section runs from Saint-Antonin (km 87) to a junction with the A-20 at Notre-Dame-du-Portage (km 100). Originally signed as Route 185 when built, it was designed as A-85 in 2005 following extensive rehabilitation. The second, newer section extends from the New Brunswick border (km 0) to Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (km 48). Construction began in 2002 in the vicinity of Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac and continues to the present day.
Description
Autoroute Claude-Bechard
Bas-Saint-Laurent
The A-85 begins at the Quebec-New Brunswick border as the continuation of New Brunswick Route 2 and the Trans-Canada Highway. In 2010, the Quebec government announced that the A-85 would be named for Claude Béchard, a longtime Member of the National Assembly from Bas-Saint-Laurent.[5]
From the New Brunswick border, the A-85 briefly parallels the main runway of the Edmundston Airport, which straddles the interprovincial border. The A-85 travels in a northwesterly direction, following the course of the Madawaska River. The autoroute passes Dégelis to the west with exits at km 12, km 14, and km 15. Briefly skirting the south shore of Lake Témiscouata, the A-85 passes through Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, with exits at km 29, km 37, and km 40 (which provides access to Parc nationale Lac-Témiscouata). At Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (km 48), the controlled-access highway ends and the route resumes its designation as Route 185.
The second section of the A-85 begins in Saint-Antonin with exits at km 89, km 90, and km 93 as it traverses the Saint Lawrence Lowlands. Exit 93 provides access to Route 191 which bypasses Rivière-du-Loup to the south and provides the most direct route for motorists bound for Rimouski, Mont-Joli, and Gaspésie via eastbound A-20. After one last exit (km 97), the A-85 merges with westbound A-20 at the Saint Lawrence River. Westbound A-20 assumes the Trans-Canada Highway designation, continuing on to Québec City and Montréal, then to either Toronto and Windsor via the A-20 and Ontario Highway 401, or Ottawa via the A-40 and Ontario Highway 417.
Construction history
| km | Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0-8 | 2014 | New Brunswick ( Route 2) to Kilometre 8 |
| 8-14 | 2013 | Kilometre 8 to Dégelis |
| 14-15 | 2004 | Dégelis |
| 15-22 | 2013 | Dégelis to Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac) |
| 22-29 | 2015 | South of Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac) |
| 29-30 | 2002 | Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac) |
| 30-36 | 2014 | Témiscouata-sur-le-lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac to Cabano) |
| 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 | 3e Rang in St-Antonin to Rivière-du-Loup (Route 185 converted to autoroute standards) |
| 94-100 | 1972 | From Rivière-du-Loup to Autoroute 20/Trans-Canada Highway West (Historic section of Route 185) |
\]]
Exit List
Autoroute 85/Trans-Canada Highway  | |||||
| County | Location | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Témiscouata | Dégelis | 0.0 | Québec-New Brunswick Border, Highway 85 connects to Route 2 in New Brunswick | ||
| 1 | Avenue de la Madawaska | Northbound exit and entrance; Saint-Jacques Airport (NB), Irving Gas & Service Centre | |||
| 7 | Traverse Johnny-Griffin | ||||
| 12 |  Route 295, Dégelis, 7e Rue, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, Saint-Juste-du-Lac, Rue Industrielle, Avenue Principale |
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| 14 | Route 295, Dégelis, 7e Rue, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, Saint-Juste-du-Lac, Packington, Avenue Principale Nord |
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| Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac (Notre-Dame-du-Lac) | 24 | Chemin du Lac, Packington | |||
| 29 | Saint-Eusèbe, Notre-Dame-du-Lac, Rue de l'Église | ||||
| 30 | Rue Commerciale Nord | ||||
| 33 | Montée du détour | ||||
| Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac (Cabano) | 37 |  Route 232 West, Rue Parc-Industriel, Pohénégamook, Rivière-Bleue |
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| 40 | Route 232 East, Rue du Domaine, Rimouski, Saint-Michel-du-Squatec |
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| Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! | 47 | Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Saint-Elzéar-de-Témiscouata | Rue Raymond | ||
| Route 185 Between km 48 and 86 | |||||
| Autoroute 85/Trans-Canada Highway | ||||||
| County | Location | km | Exit | Destinations | Notes | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rivière-du-Loup | Saint-Antonin | 89 | Saint-Antonin, Rue Principale | 47°46′56″N 69°27′53″W / 47.782232°N 69.464825°W | ||
| 90 | Saint-Modeste, Saint-Antonin, 1st Rank | Southbound only | 47°47′22″N 69°28′32″W / 47.789475°N 69.475662°W | |||
| Rivière-du-Loup | 93 | A-20 East,  Route 191, Rivière-du-Loup, Boulevard Industriel, Rimouski |
47°48′31″N 69°30′14″W / 47.808716°N 69.503953°W | |||
| 96 | Ch. Fraserville, Rivière-du-Loup | 47°48′49″N 69°32′00″W / 47.81358°N 69.5332°W | ||||
| 98 | Halte Routière de Fraserville | Northbound only | 47°48′39″N 69°33′06″W / 47.810705°N 69.55175°W | |||
| Notre-Dame-du-Portage | 100 | A-20/TCH West, Quebec City |
Northbound only | 47°47′30″N 69°34′40″W / 47.791708°N 69.577661°W | ||
- The exit numbers are based on distance (in kilometres) from the provincial border with Edmundston, New Brunswick
References
- ↑ Ministère des transports, "Distances routières", page (?), Les Publications du Québec, 2005
- 1 2 "Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec" (in French). Transports Québec. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ↑ Autoroute Claude-Béchard (85) - Réaménagement de la route 185 en autoroute
- ↑ Lessard, Denis. "L'autoroute Claude-Béchard: comme si c'était fait". lapresse.ca. La Presse (Montreal). Retrieved 22 January 2015.
- ↑ Lessard, Denis (2010). "L'autoroute Claude-Béchard: comme si c'était fait". La Presse. Retrieved 22 January 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Quebec Autoroute 85. |
- Transport Quebec website
- Transports Quebec Map (French)
- A-85 at Exitlists.com
- A-85 at Quebec Autoroutes
- Press release on A-85 opening
| Preceded by Autoroute 20 |
 Trans-Canada Highway Autoroute 85 |
Succeeded by Route 185 |
.svg.png){kind=small} Portions of the Trans-Canada Highway | ||
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| Prince Edward Island | ||
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| Newfoundland | ||
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