U.S. Route 85

U.S. Route 85 (US 85) is a north–south United States highway that runs for 1,479 miles (2,380 km) in the Mountain - Northern Plains states of the United States. The southern terminus of the route is at the United States-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas, connecting with Mexican Federal Highway 45. The northern terminus is at the United States-Canada border in Fortuna, North Dakota, where the route continues north as Saskatchewan Highway 35. In both the United States and Saskatchewan, Canada the route is known as the CanAm Highway. Sections of US 85 are considered part of the Theodore Roosevelt Expressway.

Route description

The highway passes through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota, and North Dakota.

Texas

US 85 in Texas begins at the United States/Mexico border with US 62 and travels north through El Paso, beginning at the Santa Fe Street Bridge, and following Santa Fe street, then Paisano Drive westward, along the Rio Grande until Paisano Drive ends where it joins with Interstate 10, about 14 miles (23 km) before both reach the New Mexico border. The route is concurrent with I-10 for the remainder of its route within Texas.

U.S. Route 85 in Texas

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-mile (32 km) route briefly overlays US 62 in downtown El Paso, then traverses north along the city's west side before merging with the combined route of Interstate 10 and US 180. 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 US 80 which is now SH 20.

Route description

US 85 begins at the U.S.-Mexico border between El Paso and Ciudad Juárez at the Paso del Norte International Bridge for northbound traffic and the Good Neighbor International Bridge for southbound traffic. The international bridges overpass without directly intersecting Loop 375. 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.