Quebec Autoroute 85

Autoroute 85 is a Quebec Autoroute and the route of the Trans-Canada Highway in the province's Bas-Saint-Laurent region, also known as Autoroute Claude-Béchard. It is currently under construction with committed Federal and Provincial funding for its completion, with an estimated completion date of 2026.[3] Once this upgrade is completed, it will close the last gap in the nearly continuous freeway section of the Trans-Canada between Arnprior, Ontario, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and for an even longer interprovincial freeway route between Windsor, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia. 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, A-85 when complete will be the only controlled access highway link between the Maritime Provinces and the rest of the country. 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]

Autoroute 85 marker Autoroute 85 marker

Autoroute 85

Route Transcanadienne
Autoroute Claude-Béchard
Route information
Maintained by Transports Québec
Length77 km[1][2] (48 mi)
Existed2002[2]–present
Major junctions
South end Route 2 (TCH) near Moulin-Morneault, NB
Major intersections R-232 in Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac
Rue Fraserville, Rivière-du-Loup
North end A-20 (TCH) in Notre-Dame-du-Portage
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceQuebec
Major citiesRivière-du-Loup, Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, Saint-Antonin, Dégelis, Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!
Highway system
← A-73→ R-101

Currently there are two completed sections of A-85. 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 it was completed in 2016. The government of Quebec is currently building the final section from Saint-Antonin to Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, and it is scheduled to be completed in 2026.

Route description

Southern segment

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 A-85 would be named for Claude Béchard, a longtime Member of the National Assembly from Bas-Saint-Laurent.[4]

From the New Brunswick border, A-85 briefly parallels the main runway of the Edmundston Airport, which straddles the interprovincial border. The freeway 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, A-85 passes through Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac, with exits at km 29, km 37, and km 40, providing access to Lac-Témiscouata National Park. At Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (km 48), the controlled-access highway ends and the route resumes its designation as Route 185.

Northern segment

The second section of A-85 begins in Saint-Antonin with exits at km 89, km 90, and km 93 as it traverses the Great Lakes–St. 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 Windsor via A-20 and Ontario Highway 401, or Ottawa via the A-40 and Ontario Highway 417.

History
Autoroute 85 in Rivière-du-Loup looking North towards the Saint Lawrence River

The first section of A-85 that was built stretched from km 94 in Rivière-du-Loup to A-20 at km 100. This section opened in 1972 as Route 185.

In 2002, a bypass of Notre-Dame-du-Lac was built, then in 2004, a bypass of Dégelis was constructed.

In 2005, the initial segment saw an extension south to km 88 in Saint-Antonin. The freeway was officially signed as A-85 from km 88 to km 100 in anticipation of the conversion of Route 185.

In 2009, bypasses of Cabano and Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! opened, and in 2011, those bypasses were connected.

In 2013, the bypass of Dégelis was extended both ways, with the new freeway stretching from km 8 to km 22. It would be extended further south and tied into New Brunswick Route 2 in 2014.

Also in 2014, the Notre-Dame-du-Lac and Cabano bypasses were connected, and then in 2015, the freeway was extended to km 48.

In 2021 and 2022, the initial segment saw further extension south, with the new freeway stretching from km 76 to km 100. Another separate segment was constructed between km 56 and km 62. The entire freeway is meant to be connected by 2026.[5]

Exit list
RCMLocationkm[6]miExitDestinationsNotes
TémiscouataDégelis0.00.0– Route 2 (TCH) east – Edmundston, FrederictonContinuation into New Brunswick; Trans-Canada Highway continues east
0.750.471Avenue de la MadawaskaSouthbound access is from New Brunswick Route 2
7.24.57Traverse Johnny-Griffin
12.47.712Rue Industrielle / Avenue du LongeronSouthbound exit and entrance
13.58.4 R-295 (7e Rue) / Rue Industrielle – Dégelis, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, Saint-Juste-du-LacNorthbound exit and entrance
14.48.914 R-295 (7e Rue) – Dégelis, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande, Saint-Juste-du-LacNo northbound exit
15.49.6Avenue Principale – PackingtonNorthbound exit and entrance
Témiscouata-sur-le-Lac24.515.224Chemin du Lac, PackingtonAccess via Route Saint Benoit
28.2–
28.9		17.5–
18.0		29Rue de l'Église / Rue Commerciale – Saint-Eusèbe, Notre-Dame-du-Lac
29.618.430Rue CommercialeNorthbound exit and entrance
32.520.233Montée du Détour
37.223.137 R-232 west (Rue Cascades) – Rivière-Bleue, PohénégamookSouth end of R-232 concurrency
39.924.840 R-232 east (Rue Commerciale) – Saint-Michel-du-Squatec, RimouskiNorth end of R-232 concurrency
Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!47.529.547Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, Saint-Elzéar-de-TémiscouataAccess via Rue Raymond
49.330.6– R-185 (TCH) northRoad transitions to Route 185; south end of 38 km (24 mi) gap in A-85
Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata563556Rue PrincipaleNorthbound exit and southbound entrance; Part of Phase III extension[7][5]
603760 R-291 north – Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, Saint-Hubert-de-Rivière-du-LoupPart of Phase III extension[7][5]
664166Rue Principale Nord / 10e RangSouthbound exit and northbound entrance; Part of Phase III extension[7][5]
Rivière-du-LoupSaint-Hubert-de-Rivière-du-Loup714471Chemin Taché OuestPart of Phase III extension[7][5]
Saint-Antonin855385Chemin de Rivière-VertePart of Phase III extension[7][5]
88.054.7– R-185 (TCH) southRoad transitions from R-185; north end of 38 km (24 mi) gap in A-85
89.255.489Rue Principale – Saint-Antonin
90.456.2901er Rang – Saint-Modeste, Saint-AntoninSouthbound exit and northbound entrance
Rivière-du-Loup93.458.093 R-191 (Boulevard Industriel) to A-20 east – Rivière-du-Loup, Rimouski
96.059.796Chemin Fraserville – Rivière-du-Loup
97.660.6 Fraserville Rest Stop (Northbound)
Notre-Dame-du-Portage99.962.1100 A-20 (TCH) west – QuébecEastbound exit, westbound entrance; exit 499 on A-20;
Trans-Canada Highway follows A-20 west
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. Ministère des transports, "Distances routières", page (?), Les Publications du Québec, 2005
  2. "Répertoire des autoroutes du Québec" (in French). Transports Québec. Archived from the original on 2010-01-11. Retrieved 2008-02-23.
  3. "Autoroute Claude-Béchard (85) - Réaménagement de la route 185 en autoroute". Archived from the original on 2018-09-25. Retrieved 2016-10-26.
  4. Lessard, Denis (13 September 2010). "L'autoroute Claude-Béchard: comme si c'était fait". La Presse. La Presse (Montreal). Retrieved 22 January 2015.
  5. "Autoroute 85 (Claude-Béchard) – Réaménagement de la route 185 en autoroute entre Saint-Antonin et Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (phase III) – Construction". Quebec Ministère des Transports. Archived from the original on July 27, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2022.
  6. Google (January 2, 2020). "A-85 in Quebec" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  7. "Début des travaux de la troisième phase de réaménagement de la route 185" (in Canadian French). Retrieved 2018-10-03.
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