Currently there are two completed sections of A-85. The northern section runs from south of Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata (km 57) 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 southern section extends from the New Brunswick border (km 0) to north of Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (km 50). 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 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. Past Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! (km 50), the controlled-access highway ends and the highway resumes its designation as Route 185.
Northern segment
The second section of A-85 begins in Saint-Honoré-de-Témiscouata, 3 kilometres south of its junction with Route 291 (itself at km 60), then proceeds through the Appalachian Hills, by either following its predecessor's alignment or following a new routing, leaving the former Route 185 as a local road serving residents and businesses in the area. Exit 93 provides access to Route 191 which bypasses Rivière-du-Loup to the south and provides the most direct route (and a effective go-around transit route for commercial heavy vehicle traffic) for motorists bound for Rimouski, Mont-Joli, and Gaspésie via eastbound A-20. After one last exit at Fraserville Road (km 96), 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.
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 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. By October 2024 the section between km 62 and 76 was completed and opened. The entire freeway will be connected by mid-2026.[5]
