AARoads Forum

Regional Boards => Canada => Topic started by: ghYHZ on December 16, 2012, 09:26:35 AM

Title: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 16, 2012, 09:26:35 AM
What's the status of the twinning on A-85/TCH between Riviere-du-loup and the QC/ NB border? The last time I was through it was finished in the Cabano and Notre-Dame-du-Lac areas and also the section up over the hill between Notre-Dame-du-Lac and Degelis was under construction. Has the Irving Big Stop at Saint-Antonin been by-passed yet? It's a favorite stopping place on the drive from Ottawa to Nova Scotia (which will hopefully be around 45 min shorter now with the opening of A-30!)  I also see that New Brunswick has 10 million in next year's budget to complete the remaining couple of clicks of TCH2 at the NB/QC border.

.........Then it's a continuous run of nearly 700km of twinned TCH to Sutherlands River NS.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on December 16, 2012, 11:50:41 AM
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: vdeane on December 16, 2012, 04:25:04 PM
According to Google, the freeway portions need to be upgraded to a freeway and the two lane portions are done!  :spin:
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 16, 2012, 05:58:56 PM
Quote from: webfil on December 16, 2012, 11:50:41 AM
  • QC-191 to 3e Rang in Saint-Antonin (6 km) opened in 2005;
  • The Saint-Antonin―Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! (40 km) gap received green light in April 2011. Work should begin around 2013-14.........
Thanks, I'll provide an update and photos in the new year after my trip to Ottawa.[/list]
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Stephane Dumas on December 26, 2013, 09:22:25 AM
The section between Degelis and the N-B border is close to completion from what I saw on a recent aerial shot on Bing maps. http://binged.it/1dEZNHr

Now I wait for an update of the aerial pictures for Cabano and Notre-Dame-du-lac. ^^;
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on May 13, 2014, 01:38:19 PM
UPDATE : two new sections were open last october. Current length (as of oct. 2013) : 40 kilometres (40% completed).

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F04078ccb-d2cc-4378-bbe0-ae4d4425a483_zpsbc3508ec.png&hash=f99e11d0cb8ffb2520366ed1c99ff4af5a9fed8e)km 0 [New Brunswick border] to km 8 [exit 8 - Av. de la Madawaska] : under construction, scheduled to open before fall 2015;

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fd2de7dd2-7f70-41e9-9dc6-b335afc814ce_zpsb61a4508.png&hash=db46f557217fcae5b363d8511ea915730ada23a2)km 8 to km 20 [endpoint of existing freeway section] : Dégelis bypass completed;
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F26f36eb3-16d6-4917-bf51-4a2a543ee6b3_zpsb7446f47.jpg&hash=e9011659c4c7ca633e6a3e14c4e2b01e76556a71)
Photo : MTQ

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F04078ccb-d2cc-4378-bbe0-ae4d4425a483_zpsbc3508ec.png&hash=f99e11d0cb8ffb2520366ed1c99ff4af5a9fed8e)km 20 to km 28 [exit 29 - Saint-Eusèbe, Notre-Dame-du-Lac (Rue de l'Église)] : under construction, scheduled to open before fall 2015;
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F0b1cfbcc-488c-4702-80e5-17bcd738ba2f_zpsa76aa4fe.jpg&hash=2eea7cb91fa7331f00b1fb438dc69c7e409b11a7)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F9f80a35a-3e18-4fc0-94d6-369bd6b6480a_zpsf8d18631.jpg&hash=34065a551ceeee08a4c84bbce9366c45f44cd296)
So long, mockchicken lanes!
Photos : MTQ


(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fd2de7dd2-7f70-41e9-9dc6-b335afc814ce_zpsb61a4508.png&hash=db46f557217fcae5b363d8511ea915730ada23a2)km 28 to km 30 [exit 30 - Rue Commerciale Nord] : Notre-Dame-du-Lac bypass completed;

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F00231b00-f6e9-46bc-8a9d-8089a1d0dc38_zps300f352f.png&hash=93619233acd960775ca1cd45e8a3a94cb916e4ee)(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F5debd816-58de-4bc7-a719-3921c43bd08f_zpsbe1786c2.png&hash=a8e28592bc6629d32ec3dd1cf57c8158798d0967) km 30 to km 32 [truck weight station] : southbound lanes under construction, northbound lanes completed
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fdee2b913-0c45-42a3-bd58-54ea61c2f720_zps7c33d3f5.jpg&hash=325c02e10c08dc79b2aa7ac1043d8cf35dc59002)
Photo : MTQ

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F04078ccb-d2cc-4378-bbe0-ae4d4425a483_zpsbc3508ec.png&hash=f99e11d0cb8ffb2520366ed1c99ff4af5a9fed8e) km 32 to km 36 [starting point of existing freeway section] : under construction, scheduled to open before fall 2015;

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fd2de7dd2-7f70-41e9-9dc6-b335afc814ce_zpsb61a4508.png&hash=db46f557217fcae5b363d8511ea915730ada23a2)km 36 to km 49 [endpoint of existing freeway section] : Cabano―Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! section completed;
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fn-stlouistemissurlelac_zps96fd96dc.jpg&hash=f192c8c270ff16cc40cf1301dc8196f9c6fa0fb2)
Photo : MTQ

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F04078ccb-d2cc-4378-bbe0-ae4d4425a483_zpsbc3508ec.png&hash=f99e11d0cb8ffb2520366ed1c99ff4af5a9fed8e) km 49 to km 87 [intersection with 3e Rang, starting point of existing freeway section] : status unknown (construction could have started);

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Fd2de7dd2-7f70-41e9-9dc6-b335afc814ce_zpsb61a4508.png&hash=db46f557217fcae5b363d8511ea915730ada23a2)km 87 to km 100 (A-20 Y-junction) : Saint-Antonin―Rivière-du-Loup section completed;
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2Frte_185_1_zps07378805.jpg&hash=b136219c11885b85f111235587dcc580c1368a0f)
Photo : MTQ
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on May 14, 2014, 11:34:21 PM
Great update on the latest progress on A-85.

Are the new segments identified as part of A-85 already signed as such, or are still signed as QC 185?  Some of the online mapping services show the new freeway segments, but label them as QC 185 rather than A-85.  My quick look for GMSV imagery suggests Google's camera car hasn't yet traveled the new freeway segments, so no help there, and MTQ's photos aren't clear enough to show route signage.

If I get up to Quebec this summer, I might add the A-85/QC 185 corridor to my itinerary.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on May 15, 2014, 12:00:11 AM
Quote from: oscar on May 14, 2014, 11:34:21 PMAre the new segments identified as part of A-85 already signed as such, or are still signed as QC 185?

As far as I know, A-85 designation is only applied to the stretch covering kilometres 87 to 100. The rest bears 185.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi710.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fww106%2Fwebfil%2F95a70299-c8cc-4eb7-ac7b-250660873bdf_zpsf0984ea8.png&hash=f58bfc173325e1f9c70283dfeea8fd4b1a05391d)
Intersection with 3e Rang in Saint-Antonin (kilometre 87)

That is based on my observations : last time I went there was summer 2009 too, the pictures dating from 2013 shows a 185 shield and a 90 km/h speed limit (R-175 is the only provincial route to get a speed limit of 100), and the official MTQ roadmap and inventory map show a 185 designation up to Saint-Antonin too.

I only used the 85 shields to show the upgraded sections, not to tell it is signed as such. Based on other redesignation operations (R-175/A-973, A-430/A-20, A-440/A-40 (Québec), A-20/A-720 and A-25, etc.), removing 185 remnants could take up to 50 years after completion. :-)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: J N Winkler on May 15, 2014, 03:09:04 PM
Quote from: webfil on May 13, 2014, 01:38:19 PMkm 49 to km 87 [intersection with 3e Rang, starting point of existing freeway section] : status unknown (construction could have started);

I can't find any evidence it has--I have found SEAO tender advertisements for pretty much all of the other sections listed but not this one.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on July 25, 2014, 09:07:24 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on May 15, 2014, 03:09:04 PM
Quote from: webfil on May 13, 2014, 01:38:19 PMkm 49 to km 87 [intersection with 3e Rang, starting point of existing freeway section] : status unknown (construction could have started);

I can't find any evidence it has--I have found SEAO tender advertisements for pretty much all of the other sections listed but not this one.

I know the 2003-2012 liberal government announced 2.5 B$ of autoroute extensions late in their mandate, but never signed the cheque. The péquiste government found out as soon as they entered power, so they suspended (or sometimes cancelled) not only the ongoing A-85 planification, but most of the major road projects (http://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelles/politique/2013/02/15/004-construction-routes-gaudreault.shtml) [in french] : A-440 phase I in Montréal, A-720 eastern "extension", A-19 in Laval, A-70 in Saguenay, A-20 to Rimouski, A-35, A-410, etc.

Aside from that, there is no federal-provincial agreement yet for the funding of the Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!―Saint-Antonin section, an agreement which is needed as the road is part of Canada's NHS. Meanwhile, the provincial Ministry of Transportation (MTQ) announced last week (http://www.fil-information.gouv.qc.ca/Pages/Article.aspx?idArticle=2207173299) that 2.7 M$ will be invested in 2014 to ensure security in this section :

In other words, Transport minister Robert Poëti is trying to say "don't expect an autoroute there in the near future" with that press release. That will not prevent me from sleeping, as the sections that were said to be the most dangerous were converted to freeway or are bound to be as such in the next year.

Once completed, A-85 will be named after Claude Béchard, ex-Member of the Québec National Assembly for the region, who died of cancer at 41 in 2010.

Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: CrystalWalrein on September 15, 2014, 08:29:41 PM
It looks like A-85 from the New Brunswick border to Dégelis is all done, as is the link from Cabano to Saint-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha!. Radio-Canada reported on it (http://m.radio-canada.ca/regions/est-quebec/2014/09/10/005-autoroute-85-deux-troncons-completes.shtml), and OpenStreetMap has been updated to reflect it.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: seicer on September 15, 2014, 08:58:29 PM
Clearview signage?
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: vdeane on September 16, 2014, 01:11:45 PM
Probably, it's MTQ's current standard.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Fugazi on September 16, 2014, 04:02:36 PM
I wonder if the new stretches of freeway are signed as A-85 now. Up until recently, only the short northernmost stretch near A-20 was signed A-85 with the rest still signed as R-185.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Henry on September 26, 2014, 11:58:09 AM
Slowly but surely, A-85 is starting to grow! So far, the part that splits off from A-20 and the piece going towards the NB border are signed as such, and I'm pretty sure the rest will be done by the end of the decade, if not sooner.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: J N Winkler on October 08, 2014, 04:47:08 PM
Quote from: Sherman Cahal on September 15, 2014, 08:58:29 PMClearview signage?

Quote from: vdeane on September 16, 2014, 01:11:45 PMProbably, it's MTQ's current standard.

I think we need a field check on this one.  One of the segments referenced, New Brunswick border to Dégelis, was built under MTQ contract 6501-12-0902.  It is my understanding that MTQ adopted Clearview in 2009, and the "12" in the contract number means 2012, but even so the drawings show Series E Modified.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on October 08, 2014, 07:37:37 PM
Quote from: Fugazi on September 16, 2014, 04:02:36 PM
I wonder if the new stretches of freeway are signed as A-85 now. Up until recently, only the short northernmost stretch near A-20 was signed A-85 with the rest still signed as R-185.

There are two new segments signed as A-85, one between Degelis and the QC/NB border, the other near the funny-name town of St.-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!  QC 185 between the two new segments is still signed as such, but work is underway to twin that part of QC 185.  I saw a sign with a projected completion date, but don't remember what it was.

I plan to go back down there tomorrow morning (this afternoon's drive up from Edmundston had thoroughly miserable weather) to do a more complete check.

I didn't notice Clearview signage, but might double-check that tomorrow.  I'm really, really not a font freak, so this isn't something I care about.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: J N Winkler on October 08, 2014, 08:10:03 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 08, 2014, 07:37:37 PMI didn't notice Clearview signage, but might double-check that tomorrow.  I'm really, really not a font freak, so this isn't something I care about.

This observation shouldn't be too taxing to make--the A-85 plans I have in hand all show Series E Modified if they are pattern-accurate, so I would expect the signs to be all one or the other.  The observation about A-85 being signed on the length running between Dégelis and New Brunswick matches the construction plans for 6501-12-0902, which do show A-85 shields on guide signs.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Fugazi on October 08, 2014, 08:26:09 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 08, 2014, 07:37:37 PM
I plan to go back down there tomorrow morning (this afternoon's drive up from Edmundston had thoroughly miserable weather) to do a more complete check.
Looking forward to your report!

In other A-85 news, the autoroute is now officially named Claude-Béchard (link (http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/Denomination_A85.aspx), in French only for now as the MTQ site is still being rebuilt). Name signs have probably been erected in the field now, or will be shortly. The press release mentions that the autoroute is 101 km long, which is obviously not the case yet.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Ren97 on October 09, 2014, 05:14:08 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on October 08, 2014, 04:47:08 PM
but even so the drawings show Series E Modified.

Don't you need a Constructo subscription to access them?

Quote from: Fugazi on October 08, 2014, 08:26:09 PM
(link (http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/Denomination_A85.aspx), in French only for now as the MTQ site is still being rebuilt)

Well that explains a lot. I've been trying to access the sign catalogue for a few weeks now unsuccessfully.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: J N Winkler on October 09, 2014, 06:22:02 PM
Quote from: Ren97 on October 09, 2014, 05:14:08 PM
Quote from: J N Winkler on October 08, 2014, 04:47:08 PMbut even so the drawings show Series E Modified.

Don't you need a Constructo subscription to access them?

You need a paying subscription of some kind to download them free of DRM restrictions, but if you have a basic SEAO account (which is free) and a FileOpen plugin (also free) in your copy of Acrobat or Acrobat Reader, you can download a copy of each drawing file that can then be opened up to five times.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on October 09, 2014, 07:13:39 PM
Some quick notes (more to follow):

There are new signs on A-85 with Clearview.  I had a little trouble spotting the squiggly lower-case "l" that is distinctive to Clearview, but eventually found a few.

Quote from: Fugazi on October 08, 2014, 08:26:09 PM
In other A-85 news, the autoroute is now officially named Claude-Béchard (link (http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/Denomination_A85.aspx), in French only for now as the MTQ site is still being rebuilt). Name signs have probably been erected in the field now, or will be shortly.

I saw some, at least on the newly-opened Degelis segment.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on October 10, 2014, 09:35:10 AM
Quote from: Ren97 on October 09, 2014, 05:14:08 PM
Quote from: Fugazi on October 08, 2014, 08:26:09 PM
(link (http://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/Denomination_A85.aspx), in French only for now as the MTQ site is still being rebuilt)

Well that explains a lot. I've been trying to access the sign catalogue for a few weeks now unsuccessfully.
The RSR (Répertoire de dispositifs de signalisation routière, Traffic Control Device Directory), the DDS (Diffusion des données spatiales, Spatial Data Broadcasting; a GIS app), the Atlas des transports and the bridge and structure directory are all down at the moment. They're the only sections of their website that I visited regularly.

I'm really, really annoyed that they decided to put a half-baked website in service.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Fugazi on October 10, 2014, 12:25:12 PM
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on October 10, 2014, 09:35:10 AM
I'm really, really annoyed that they decided to put a half-baked website in service.
From what I could tell, it was an unexpected failure (data loss?) that prompted the makeover.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on October 10, 2014, 02:33:12 PM
Alright. Just looked it up and that's what it seems to be. It all makes much more sense now.

(In French)
http://www.lapresse.ca/le-soleil/actualites/justice-et-faits-divers/201409/26/01-4804020-le-ministere-des-transports-du-quebec-encore-ebranle-par-le-degat-deau.php
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on October 10, 2014, 05:00:28 PM
I love the photos that the MTQ puts online for its projects.  It makes the 185 project look awesome.  I wish MTO put pictures like that online of its projects.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on October 29, 2014, 10:15:11 PM
Here are my photos from earlier this month of the two new A-85 segments.  One segment is from the NB/QC border to north of Degelis, and the other is from south of exit 29 near Notre-Dame-du-Lac to north of exit 47 in St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!  I also took some photos of the construction between the two segments, which is planned to fill the gap between the two new segments by December 2015.  (No work underway to extend A-85 north of St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, to fill in the remaining gap with the Riviere-du-Loup segment.)  The photos are roughly in km-marker order, which starts at the NB/QC border since A-85 is signed as a north-south route even though its actual direction is more west-east. 

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-NB-km8_DSC4927.jpg&hash=502c025edce53fcc220097fa27866bb410884838)

^  A-85 and TCH markers northbound, at km 8.  This isn't the first set of markers entering from New Brunswick, but it is conveniently right next to a km-marker which confirms the location.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-Traverse-Johnny-Griffin-NB-underpass-sign_DSC4918.jpg&hash=f192a20a5469d20f9a1afccf202e5a1acebbff08)

^  This sign is on Traverse Johnny-Griffin eastbound, at the exit 7 underpass.  The road connects A-85 to the old TCH route, now called Av. de la Madawaska southeast of Degelis.  The Johnny-Griffin/Madawaska intersection is about at the point where the old route is closest to the new route; there are much wider gaps between the old and new routes both north and south of this intersection.  Traverse Johnny-Griffin also connects A-85 to the Av. du Longeron frontage road along the southbound lanes, which continues north to exits 12 and 14.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-exit-12-SB-sign_DSC4909.jpg&hash=655700ad65529ff3d87127b95e120fd726120a0f)

^  This photo, showing A-85 signage southbound on the overhead sign, was taken at exit 12 for Rue Industrielle and the Av. du Longeron frontage road.  Edmundston would've been a logical control city (it's used elsewhere on A-85), but the "control province" was used here instead.  Exit 12, and exits 1 (northbound-only, just north of the NB/QC border) and 7, are on the new A-85 roadway south of Degelis, which ties into the old route near exit 14 for QC 295.

The short new roadway on the New Brunswick side of the border, to tie in the new A-85 segment with NB's part of the TCH, also has a new southbound-only exit 1, to match up with the new northbound-only exit 1 on the Quebec side.  This oddity, somewhat like the exit 2s on each side of the new US 93 bridge between Nevada and Arizona, is from Quebec treating A-85 and the rest of the TCH south of A-20 as a north-south route, while New Brunswick treats TCH 2 as a west-east route.  One could also treat the closely spaced exit 1s as part of a single interchange, ignoring the provincial border running through it.

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-exit-14-NB-sign_DSC4865.jpg&hash=664ba31704f768b18f5449bdd987e5e955242a2a)

^  Heading back northbound is this curious set of signs north of the QC 295 overpass at the RIRO for Av. Principale into downtown Degelis.  The last time the GMSV camera car drove through (the highway then was freeway at this location, before the new A-85 roadway was opened southeast of Degelis), the RIRO used to be signed as exit 15.  But while its new exit number is now shared with exit 14 southbound for QC 295, there's no mention of QC 295 here (you can get to QC 295 from here, but only via a tedious slog through downtown Degelis).  Also new to this sign assembly is the overhead sign showing the control city of Riviere-du-Loup added a route marker, but for QC 185 rather than A-85.  There is a freestanding A-85 route marker north of this interchange, and the twinned limited-access highway continues to near km 19 (no additional exits yet north of exit 14), but this new signage leaves unclear for now whether the highway north of Degelis is part of A-85.

Around km 19, the highway turns into a two-lane roadway with twinning construction underway until near km 24, and if there was route signage between km 19 and exit 29, it was only as QC 185.  From near km 24 to just south of exit 29, the construction shifts to a new-alignment route very close to and southwest of the existing route. 

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-construction-from-Rte-St-Benoit-overpass-EB_DSC4881.jpg&hash=9d7e5c32490d52398502b9eb33b1efcf748223b4)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-construction-new-alignment-tiein-closeup_DSC4881.jpg&hash=c9e1cc2e4750562702bda7fd9d344893024679f0)
(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-construction-from-Rte-St-Benoit-overpass-WB_DSC4890.jpg&hash=2bf84738bf870e234257e98ecf02be28e73ea90e)

^  These three construction zone photos are from the Rte. St-Benoit overpass, reached by a turnoff from the old route still in service near km 24.6.  The first two photos are views of the new alignment southbound, with the second a closeup focusing on the tie-in area between the new and old alignments near km 24.  The third photo is of the new alignment northbound.  The construction includes a new interchange with Rte. St-Benoit, though I don't know what will be the new exit number.   

(https://www.aaroads.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.alaskaroads.com%2FA85-exit-47-SB-sign_DSC4827.jpg&hash=df45bf7a1ea9df2eec2d7184f752fce1bc6e27da)

^  This is the first exit sign for the new A-85 segments southbound, approaching exit 47 for St-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!, before twinning starts just north of that exit.  I pulled off the new freeway here hoping to score some postcards to send my nieces from there.  Alas, it's a fairly small town with no visitor centre or other effort to exploit its funny name.  It turned out to be another one of those towns not nearly as interesting as its name.

There is an A-85 route marker northbound just north of exit 47 (the first corresponding southbound A-85 marker is near km 47.3, just south of exit 47).  However, almost immediately thereafter the highway changes from four-lane divided controlled-access, to two lanes undivided with at-grade intersections.   The first such intersection north of exit 47, at Ch. de la Savane (not counting the driveway shown in the above photo), has signage indicating that the highway remains QC 185 in both directions.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on October 30, 2014, 01:46:51 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 29, 2014, 10:15:11 PM
^  Heading back northbound is this curious set of signs north of the QC 295 overpass at the RIRO for Av. Principale into downtown Packington.

This is downtown Dégelis. MTQ often mixes town X and streets from town Y on the same sign, especially after signign "TOWN Y 2 NEXT EXITS". That can be confusing, I admit.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on October 30, 2014, 01:59:18 PM
Quote from: webfil on October 30, 2014, 01:46:51 PM
Quote from: oscar on October 29, 2014, 10:15:11 PM
^  Heading back northbound is this curious set of signs north of the QC 295 overpass at the RIRO for Av. Principale into downtown Packington.

This is downtown Dégelis. MTQ often mixes town X and streets from town Y on the same sign, especially after signign "TOWN Y 2 NEXT EXITS". That can be confusing, I admit.

Thanks.  Both references to Packington in my post above have been corrected accordingly.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Dr Frankenstein on January 05, 2015, 01:12:17 PM
Interesting. Any pictures? I remember seeing the sign plans and they pretty much called for proper NB-style and QC-style signage depending on where the signs were installed (although all of them were to be made by Québec).
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on January 06, 2015, 03:23:04 PM
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on January 05, 2015, 01:12:17 PM
Interesting. Any pictures? I remember seeing the sign plans and they pretty much called for proper NB-style and QC-style signage depending on where the signs were installed (although all of them were to be made by Québec).

Unfortunately not...didn't have a camera with me at the time...another fun fact: Av de la Madawaska ends at the intersection with rue Industrielle in Degelis, where it becomes av Principale on the other side at the intersection, which would be here:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.541947,-68.6235754,3a,90y,110.22h,79.45t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sBJFFWE33AidCXnYYpcJyVQ!2e0

The local busline, Maritime Bus, recently went back to the future for the bus stop in Degelis, leaving Motel Claude to return to Motel Le 1212, the stop during the Voyageur bus days.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Stephane Dumas on January 08, 2015, 07:40:36 AM
I spotted that video posted on Skysraperpage forums of TCH-85 filmed between St-Louis-du-Ha-Ha and Temiscouata-sur-le-lac (part of the former town of Cabano) 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hO90Cvl7NW8
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: SignGeek101 on January 22, 2015, 12:06:19 AM
New Streetview coverage of the area:

http://goo.gl/maps/x3OOe
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on January 23, 2015, 11:41:06 AM
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on January 05, 2015, 01:12:17 PM
Interesting. Any pictures? I remember seeing the sign plans and they pretty much called for proper NB-style and QC-style signage depending on where the signs were installed (although all of them were to be made by Québec).

Couldn't find the sign on NB-2 NB (the Street View car went through in July, and NB traffic was still being routed by the Degelis Big Stop), but it's just before the border, but found the one on A-85 SB:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.490539,-68.498917,3a,75y,159.29h,79.77t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLuOZRASo2LqISMqUMpimqw!2e0


Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: MisterSG1 on February 13, 2015, 08:15:42 PM
So what actually is going on with Phase 3, will the endless headache of the political stalemate ever be resolved? I mean really, how long has this been going on for now?
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Duke87 on March 08, 2015, 08:00:04 PM
If by "Phase 3" you mean the big gap from Saint-Antonin to Saint-Louis-du-Ha-Ha, no ground had been broken on anything there when I passed through last October. As far as I am aware none will be anytime soon since a shift in Quebec's government resulted in all new autoroute construction that wasn't already underway being put on indefinite hold.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on August 13, 2015, 02:21:04 PM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 23, 2015, 11:41:06 AM
Quote from: Dr Frankenstein on January 05, 2015, 01:12:17 PM
Interesting. Any pictures? I remember seeing the sign plans and they pretty much called for proper NB-style and QC-style signage depending on where the signs were installed (although all of them were to be made by Québec).

Couldn't find the sign on NB-2 NB (the Street View car went through in July, and NB traffic was still being routed by the Degelis Big Stop), but it's just before the border, but found the one on A-85 SB:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.490539,-68.498917,3a,75y,159.29h,79.77t/data=!3m4!1e1!3m2!1sLuOZRASo2LqISMqUMpimqw!2e0

The Street View has been updated in the area (taken in Oct 2014 from the SB lanes):

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4764999,-68.4660261,3a,75y,358.04h,81.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szGPkzLX-UJ9O4qUu9PJeJA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4764999,-68.4660261,3a,75y,358.04h,81.56t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1szGPkzLX-UJ9O4qUu9PJeJA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

The sign was still covered-up at the time, but that is the location...
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: oscar on August 13, 2015, 03:12:27 PM
What I'm particularly interested in is whether the gap between the Degelis (NB border-exit 14) and Notre-Dame-du-Lac (exits 29-47) will be sufficiently filled soon, by rerouting two-way traffic onto one side of the new A-85 roadway between those segments from the old QC 185 roadway. Local press reports (in French, so I hope the auto-translation is right) indicate that might happen next week. If so, I can update the Travel Mapping database with one new A-85 eastern segment (plus related TCH reroutings) right away, rather than add separate Degelis and Notre-Dame-du-Lac segments now, then go back and merge them in a few months when construction is completed.

OpenStreetMap has A-85 in the gap, but it's jumped the gun before on other Quebec projects.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: webfil on September 05, 2015, 11:08:47 PM
Quote from: oscar on August 13, 2015, 03:12:27 PM
What I'm particularly interested in is whether the gap between the Degelis (NB border-exit 14) and Notre-Dame-du-Lac (exits 29-47) will be sufficiently filled soon, by rerouting two-way traffic onto one side of the new A-85 roadway between those segments from the old QC 185 roadway. Local press reports (in French, so I hope the auto-translation is right) indicate that might happen next week. If so, I can update the Travel Mapping database with one new A-85 eastern segment (plus related TCH reroutings) right away, rather than add separate Degelis and Notre-Dame-du-Lac segments now, then go back and merge them in a few months when construction is completed.

OpenStreetMap has A-85 in the gap, but it's jumped the gun before on other Quebec projects.

Phase 2 (https://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Documents/2015-07-13-Autoroute85/3300reamenagementroute18515-07-03TousProjets_cou.pdf) has been completely open in 2015.

1 G$ funding for Phase 3 (final) has been announced (https://www.mtq.gouv.qc.ca/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/canada-quebec-parachevement-autoroute-85.aspx) in July. 400 M$ federal funding at stake right now with ongoing election.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: SignGeek101 on October 25, 2015, 06:26:22 PM
Just checking up on this project. Apparently, construction of the final stretch of Autoroute 85 will commence in 2017, for a completion date in 2021.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on November 10, 2015, 07:47:40 PM
New vid of A-85/QC-185 between Riviere-du-Loup to Edmonston!

Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: SignGeek101 on June 26, 2016, 01:44:50 PM
Not sure if this is new, but apparently, it won't be done until 2025.   :crazy:

Article is in french:

http://www.infodimanche.com/actualites/actualite/289810/autoroute-85-la-mise-en-service-complete-prevue-pour-2025
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: dvferyance on July 12, 2016, 05:42:21 PM
I find it odd that A-85 is considered a north-south route when it runs more east-west.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: 7/8 on July 12, 2016, 05:50:32 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on July 12, 2016, 05:42:21 PM
I find it odd that A-85 is considered a north-south route when it runs more east-west.

I see where you're coming from, but I think it's due to being perpendicular with A-20, which is an E-W route. Also, how would it fit in the grid as an E-W route? It would be south of A-20, but it's also pretty far north to have a number less than 20. I think numbering it 85 is the simplest solution.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Henry on July 13, 2016, 10:33:50 AM
Quote from: 7/8 on July 12, 2016, 05:50:32 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on July 12, 2016, 05:42:21 PM
I find it odd that A-85 is considered a north-south route when it runs more east-west.

I see where you're coming from, but I think it's due to being perpendicular with A-20, which is an E-W route. Also, how would it fit in the grid as an E-W route? It would be south of A-20, but it's also pretty far north to have a number less than 20. I think numbering it 85 is the simplest solution.
And besides, I-85 runs in an E-W fashion, despite being signed N-S, so clearly, this is not unique to the Interstate grid.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: froggie on July 13, 2016, 01:39:55 PM
Quebec autoroute numbering makes sense if you 'skew' the directions such that the St. Lawrence River is "east-west".
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: midwesternroadguy on September 10, 2016, 07:57:23 AM
It makes even more sense if you consider the historic pattern of settlement of French river lots where land was divided perpendicularly to a large river to provide access to it for a maximum number of landowners.   Look at property maps/plats in France, Louisiana, Green Bay Wisconsin, or the St Lawrence Valley. 
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on April 16, 2017, 09:43:04 PM
Quote from: dvferyance on July 12, 2016, 05:42:21 PM
I find it odd that A-85 is considered a north-south route when it runs more east-west.

As odd as it can be, from A-20, A-85 is marked North-South, and continues in New Brunswick as NB-2, marked East-West!

It's true that the MTQ cheats a bit with directions; they consider St. Lawrence river as East-West axis, so at least in St. Lawrence valley, they mark roads accordingly.  But go figure, they also consider Saguenay river East-West, even if it's almost the same axis as A-85!
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on April 18, 2017, 11:15:14 AM
Ugh! I was expecting an update.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: AsphaltPlanet on April 18, 2017, 11:27:39 PM
^ There isn't anything to update.  The segment that's finished is finished.  The section that doesn't yet exist, and is still R-185, still doesn't exist... there is no active construction ongoing.  If memory serves me, some tree clearing along some of the future corridor is planned this summer, but I'm not aware of any other work proposed.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on May 28, 2017, 12:09:38 AM
I just checked the MTQ site. About the remaining +/- 25 miles to build, from St-Louis-du-Ha!-Ha! north to St-Antonin, they show that technical (that means "non-definitive") schedule:

- Tree cutting works in 2017.
- Beginning of highway construction in 2018.
- Progressive section openings from 2021 to 2025.

On site, there's some surveyors since the snow finishes to melt.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on December 21, 2017, 10:57:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...

We now have a visual of the sign, thanks to Street View's visit in September:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: SignGeek101 on December 21, 2017, 08:20:50 PM
Quote from: Bluenoser on December 21, 2017, 10:57:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...

We now have a visual of the sign, thanks to Street View's visit in September:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

Thanks for that. I wonder if the two signs were installed the wrong way, as in the current northbound sign should have been installed southbound and vice versa. Makes me wonder who made the signs and who installed them.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Alps on December 21, 2017, 09:36:28 PM
Quote from: Bluenoser on December 21, 2017, 10:57:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...

We now have a visual of the sign, thanks to Street View's visit in September:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
https://goo.gl/maps/FfCPHmDAJhp
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: vdeane on December 21, 2017, 09:52:56 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on December 21, 2017, 08:20:50 PM
Quote from: Bluenoser on December 21, 2017, 10:57:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...

We now have a visual of the sign, thanks to Street View's visit in September:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

Thanks for that. I wonder if the two signs were installed the wrong way, as in the current northbound sign should have been installed southbound and vice versa. Makes me wonder who made the signs and who installed them.
Looks like their in the correct places to me.  SB the exit is in New Brunswick so it uses New Brunswick standards, and NB it's in Québec so it uses Québec standards.  It's understandable that each province doesn't have the other's font in their sign shops.  See also a similar situation on the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia border (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8600467,-64.2700536,3a,25.1y,135.18h,97.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8Oxc1yaLTkNejuxlY65sJg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: J N Winkler on December 21, 2017, 10:30:08 PM
The MTQ drawings set for the final bit of A-85 up to the New Brunswick border (MTQ contract 6501-11-0902) actually uses Series E Modified for the Avenue de la Madawaska exit (just "Avenue Madawaska" in the drawings) on the Québec side.

I suspect that when construction was being finalized, the drawings were overhauled and MTQ and its New Brunswick counterpart reached an agreement on how to deal with the elements of each province's respective exit for Avenue de la Madawaska that are in the other's jurisdiction.  Given that New Brunswick uses external exit tabs while Québec does not, I think each province undertook to fabricate all of the advance guide signs for its own exit but in the other province's typeface for the signs that are situated in the other province.  Each sign, regardless of who fabricated it, is mounted on the type of post that is standard for the province in which it is located.  (Québec uses I-beam posts while New Brunswick uses round posts.)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Bluenoser on December 22, 2017, 02:46:52 PM
Quote from: vdeane on December 21, 2017, 09:52:56 PM
Quote from: SignGeek101 on December 21, 2017, 08:20:50 PM
Quote from: Bluenoser on December 21, 2017, 10:57:37 AM
Quote from: Bluenoser on January 04, 2015, 02:23:24 PM
The signage for the Ave de la Madawaska exit is a bit unique...it's Exit 1 in Quebec heading NB and Exit 1 in New Brunswick going SB...at around km 2 NB, the sign uses the New Brunswick font for the street name, but also uses the Quebec exit symbol for the exit; on the SB side, the sign is around the km 2 mark as well, with Quebec's Clearview font used for the name of the road (and bilingual at that!), but with "EXIT/SORTIE 2km" in New Brunswick's font (also, Exit 1 isn't indicated until the exit for some reason)...

We now have a visual of the sign, thanks to Street View's visit in September:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.ca/maps/@47.4766869,-68.4655093,3a,75y,284.94h,89.22t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1skWaPn7eWAOD9SkOzd2MZ1w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)

Thanks for that. I wonder if the two signs were installed the wrong way, as in the current northbound sign should have been installed southbound and vice versa. Makes me wonder who made the signs and who installed them.
Looks like their in the correct places to me.  SB the exit is in New Brunswick so it uses New Brunswick standards, and NB it's in Québec so it uses Québec standards.  It's understandable that each province doesn't have the other's font in their sign shops.  See also a similar situation on the New Brunswick/Nova Scotia border (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8600467,-64.2700536,3a,25.1y,135.18h,97.79t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s8Oxc1yaLTkNejuxlY65sJg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656).

That sign was made by NSDOT, there was an agreement for them to put some signs on the New Brunswick side of the border. NB overall does a better job of making fairly accurate versions of NS signs, as compared to this half-assed effort by NSDOT just up the road at the end of LaPlanche St, near Exit 1 (a sign for Prince Edward Island has since been added):

https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8515846,-64.2569135,3a,75y,110.73h,86.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s996K9cVim3KI_kW4j40C5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 (https://www.google.com/maps/@45.8515846,-64.2569135,3a,75y,110.73h,86.66t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1s996K9cVim3KI_kW4j40C5w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on December 28, 2017, 12:58:57 PM
When 85 is finally finished and there's a complete freeway from Windsor, ON to Halifax, NS, this is a designation that would make a lot of sense for it:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4635/39333910972_b6c15734ca_m.jpg)

Giving it the number 2 in recognition of that defunct historical interprovincial designation and extending the MacDonald-Cartier Freeway name to include it all. There's nothing inherently Ontario-specific about that name as MacDonald and Cartier were two of the fathers of confederation of a Canada that originally had just the four provinces the freeway traverses.

Edit: Got pic uploaded
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: hotdogPi on December 28, 2017, 01:06:14 PM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 28, 2017, 12:58:57 PM
(How the $%&! do I post images from my hard drive? Clicking the icon is useless.)

Upload the image to an image hosting website (I use Flickr, but Imgur works too; DO NOT use Photobucket), and then use the link from that website to upload it here.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on December 29, 2017, 12:09:48 AM
That's a real pain in the behind. Most forums you can just post them...
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Alps on December 29, 2017, 12:37:16 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 29, 2017, 12:09:48 AM
That's a real pain in the behind. Most forums you can just post them...
This forum would have so many images posted that it would cost the hosts a ton of money.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: cbeach40 on December 29, 2017, 09:03:00 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 28, 2017, 12:58:57 PM
When 85 is finally finished and there's a complete freeway from Windsor, ON to Halifax, NS, this is a designation that would make a lot of sense for it:

(https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4635/39333910972_b6c15734ca_m.jpg)

Giving it the number 2 in recognition of that defunct historical interprovincial designation and extending the MacDonald-Cartier Freeway name to include it all. There's nothing inherently Ontario-specific about that name as MacDonald and Cartier were two of the fathers of confederation of a Canada that originally had just the four provinces the freeway traverses.

Edit: Got pic uploaded

The 401 designation has a lot more cultural cachet than 2 does. I do however like the idea of the historic interprovincial route 2 being resurrected as a tourist route though. :)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on December 29, 2017, 10:53:36 AM
Quote from: cbeach40 
/quote]

The 401 designation has a lot more cultural cachet than 2 does. 

Provincial cultural cachet. Canada needs more national unity. That being said, Renumbering it to 2 would cause confusion though for obvious reasons. But the M-C Freeway idea would easily work. Place large signs every 100 km or so.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 30, 2017, 08:35:21 AM
Go with a common Symbol...but leave the highway numbering "˜as-is'. Here is Nova Scotia it would require a renumbering of highways as Freeways are in the "100"  series. Single and double digits are the original Trunk routes. For example: Trunk 2 here is the original highway. The parallel Freeway is "102" . This would be n expense that makes no sense at all.

And that symbol appears to be the "˜Trans Canada'. In Nova Scotia, beyond Truro....the TCH runs to the Newfoundland  Ferry Terminal in North Sydney. Not to Halifax.

BTW....MacDonald and Cartier were not Fathers of Confederation from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: MikeTheActuary on December 30, 2017, 09:10:15 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 29, 2017, 10:53:36 AMCanada needs more national unity.

I suspect that a few folks in Québec would disagree with that thought.  :)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on December 30, 2017, 10:13:57 AM
Quote from: ghYHZ on December 30, 2017, 08:35:21 AM
Go with a common Symbol...but leave the highway numbering "˜as-is'. Here is Nova Scotia it would require a renumbering of highways as Freeways are in the "100"  series. Single and double digits are the original Trunk routes. For example: Trunk 2 here is the original highway. The parallel Freeway is "102" . This would be n expense that makes no sense at all.

And that symbol appears to be the "˜Trans Canada'. In Nova Scotia, beyond Truro....the TCH runs to the Newfoundland  Ferry Terminal in North Sydney. Not to Halifax.

BTW....MacDonald and Cartier were not Fathers of Confederation from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick.


"And that symbol appears to be the "˜Trans Canada'. In Nova Scotia, beyond Truro....the TCH runs to the Newfoundland  Ferry Terminal in North Sydney. Not to Halifax."

The Trans-Canada is an interprovincial highway, so a variation of the TCH shield (in freeway blue) is quite appropriate for an interprovincial freeway--not every US interstate is transcontinental, to make an analogy.

"BTW....MacDonald and Cartier were not Fathers of Confederation from Nova Scotia or New Brunswick."

Do they have to be? They were the two main men behind Confederation as a whole. Maybe Confederation Freeway would be better, then.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 30, 2017, 10:53:25 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 30, 2017, 10:13:57 AM....... Maybe Confederation Freeway would be better, then.

Yup.....that's better. But that shield is still too Trans Canada!
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 30, 2017, 11:00:36 AM
Quote from: MikeTheActuary on December 30, 2017, 09:10:15 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 29, 2017, 10:53:36 AMCanada needs more national unity.

I suspect that a few folks in Québec would disagree with that thought.  :)

I think the emphasis today would be on "˜few'

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/quebec-angus-reid-canada-indepdence-1.3788110
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on December 30, 2017, 10:43:58 PM
Quote from: ghYHZ on December 30, 2017, 10:53:25 AM
Quote from: Transportfan on December 30, 2017, 10:13:57 AM....... Maybe Confederation Freeway would be better, then.

Yup.....that's better. But that shield is still too Trans Canada!

But the TCH is a national highway; and the shield doesn't say "Trans-Canada" on it. A TCH-derived shield could thus signify interprovincial status.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on January 03, 2018, 12:17:24 PM
I'm going a bit out of bounds with that one, but with that "exit-1-on-both-sides-of-the-border" thing, province of Quebec have now two points where "kilometer 0" is at the same place for two different jurisdictions.

- This one, because NB consider TCH-2 as an East-West highway, so the NB-QC border is the westernmost point of this highway, while QC consider A-85 as an North-South highway, even if the general orientation is east-west, because it's perpendicular to the St. Lawrence River, so the QC-NB border is the southernmost point of their highway.

- The other one is at the QC-ON border, where A-40 in QC becomes ON-417.  Tne Ontario transport authority decides to place "km 0" of the 417 at its easternmost point of the highway because they have no idea of where this highway would start on its westernmost point, nor even if the 417 will connect with MB border one day. I expect teleportation will exist way before the 417 will reach Manitoba! Can you imagine an exit 2146, instead of exit 5, on your way to St. Eugene, ON?
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on May 28, 2018, 12:25:28 AM
Back to the A-85 itself, some tree cutting is already done on some public lands between St. Antonin and Whitworth First nation territory. I saw that on my last run in the Maritimes, last Wednesday (5-23-2018).
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Great Lakes Roads on November 04, 2018, 08:31:00 AM
Let's dust off this thread with some news that was released two months ago...

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/travaux-route-185.aspx

So yeah, let's say that they are currently clearing the right-of-way with construction scheduled for 2021 and will be completed in 2025... This will be the last phase to convert highway 185 to a freeway all the way to New Brunswick from A-20...
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Transportfan on November 06, 2018, 04:15:05 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on November 04, 2018, 08:31:00 AM
Let's dust off this thread with some news that was released two months ago...

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/travaux-route-185.aspx


So yeah, let's say that they are currently clearing the right-of-way with construction scheduled for 2021 and will be completed in 2025... This will be the last phase to convert highway 185 to a freeway all the way to New Brunswick from A-20...

That's not a dust off, it's an annoying thread bump with no new info. :angry:
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: vdeane on November 06, 2018, 08:36:42 PM
Quote from: Transportfan on November 06, 2018, 04:15:05 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on November 04, 2018, 08:31:00 AM
Let's dust off this thread with some news that was released two months ago...

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/travaux-route-185.aspx


So yeah, let's say that they are currently clearing the right-of-way with construction scheduled for 2021 and will be completed in 2025... This will be the last phase to convert highway 185 to a freeway all the way to New Brunswick from A-20...

That's not a dust off, it's an annoying thread bump with no new info. :angry:
I don't recall that press release being posted on this forum.  I do recall something from one of the Facebook groups, though we have at least a few members who aren't on Facebook, so it might be new to them.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on November 28, 2018, 12:30:39 AM
Quote from: vdeane on November 06, 2018, 08:36:42 PM
Quote from: Transportfan on November 06, 2018, 04:15:05 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on November 04, 2018, 08:31:00 AM
Let's dust off this thread with some news that was released two months ago...

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/travaux-route-185.aspx


So yeah, let's say that they are currently clearing the right-of-way with construction scheduled for 2021 and will be completed in 2025... This will be the last phase to convert highway 185 to a freeway all the way to New Brunswick from A-20...

That's not a dust off, it's an annoying thread bump with no new info. :angry:
I don't recall that press release being posted on this forum.  I do recall something from one of the Facebook groups, though we have at least a few members who aren't on Facebook, so it might be new to them.

It's just a press release from the MTQ to tell that works are in their beginning.  The contractor installed some work site offices, and carried some machinery.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on December 09, 2019, 03:38:41 PM
Quote from: Richard3 on November 28, 2018, 12:30:39 AM
Quote from: vdeane on November 06, 2018, 08:36:42 PM
Quote from: Transportfan on November 06, 2018, 04:15:05 PM
Quote from: Great Lakes Roads on November 04, 2018, 08:31:00 AM
Let's dust off this thread with some news that was released two months ago...

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/salle-de-presse/nouvelles/Pages/travaux-route-185.aspx


So yeah, let's say that they are currently clearing the right-of-way with construction scheduled for 2021 and will be completed in 2025... This will be the last phase to convert highway 185 to a freeway all the way to New Brunswick from A-20...

That's not a dust off, it's an annoying thread bump with no new info. :angry:
I don't recall that press release being posted on this forum.  I do recall something from one of the Facebook groups, though we have at least a few members who aren't on Facebook, so it might be new to them.

It's just a press release from the MTQ to tell that works are in their beginning.  The contractor installed some work site offices, and carried some machinery.

After more than one year, can we consider this a dust off?  :spin: :spin: :spin:

The MTQ divided the last 40-km (25-mile) section of QC-185 in 7 segments, and works are begun on segments 1, 2, 3 and 6, as explained on this MTQ document (sorry, only in French).

https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/reseau-routier/projets-routiers/BSL-Gaspesie-IDLM/autoroute-85-claude-bechard/Documents/Documentation/Cartes/carte-phase-III.pdf (https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/reseau-routier/projets-routiers/BSL-Gaspesie-IDLM/autoroute-85-claude-bechard/Documents/Documentation/Cartes/carte-phase-III.pdf)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
^ There's enough info to glean off that PDF without having to read French.

Can also get an idea on likely interchange locations given how they segmented that stretch.  Clearly an interchange at QC 291 (Segment 6) was deemed more important than a more gradual proceeding from west-to-east (or vice versa).

Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Alps on December 10, 2019, 01:35:42 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
^ There's enough info to glean off that PDF without having to read French.

Can also get an idea on likely interchange locations given how they segmented that stretch.  Clearly an interchange at QC 291 (Segment 6) was deemed more important than a more gradual proceeding from west-to-east (or vice versa).

Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.
I believe it. It's the only all-Canada link from the Maritimes.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on December 11, 2019, 02:32:40 PM
Quote from: Alps on December 10, 2019, 01:35:42 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
^ There's enough info to glean off that PDF without having to read French.

Can also get an idea on likely interchange locations given how they segmented that stretch.  Clearly an interchange at QC 291 (Segment 6) was deemed more important than a more gradual proceeding from west-to-east (or vice versa).

Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.
I believe it. It's the only all-Canada link from the Maritimes.

It will be the first - and only - east-west Interstate-grade freeway north of NH-101.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Alps on December 12, 2019, 12:05:37 AM
Quote from: Richard3 on December 11, 2019, 02:32:40 PM
Quote from: Alps on December 10, 2019, 01:35:42 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
^ There's enough info to glean off that PDF without having to read French.

Can also get an idea on likely interchange locations given how they segmented that stretch.  Clearly an interchange at QC 291 (Segment 6) was deemed more important than a more gradual proceeding from west-to-east (or vice versa).

Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.
I believe it. It's the only all-Canada link from the Maritimes.

It will be the first - and only - east-west Interstate-grade freeway north of NH-101.
I-393 ;)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on December 12, 2019, 01:49:05 AM
Quote from: Alps on December 12, 2019, 12:05:37 AM
Quote from: Richard3 on December 11, 2019, 02:32:40 PM
Quote from: Alps on December 10, 2019, 01:35:42 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
^ There's enough info to glean off that PDF without having to read French.

Can also get an idea on likely interchange locations given how they segmented that stretch.  Clearly an interchange at QC 291 (Segment 6) was deemed more important than a more gradual proceeding from west-to-east (or vice versa).

Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.
I believe it. It's the only all-Canada link from the Maritimes.

It will be the first - and only - east-west Interstate-grade freeway north of NH-101.
I-393 ;)

Is I-393 connecting to I-95? (Yeah, I know, I didn't specify...)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: ghYHZ on December 12, 2019, 12:03:19 PM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.

Other than the QC132/NB11 link near Campbellton.....this is the only major all-Canada route to the Maritimes and onto Newfoundland serving a population of around 2.3 million.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: froggie on December 31, 2019, 09:20:44 AM
A couple weeks ago, "Unclecoolie" posted a new road video on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cfa1ss5jiSk) that shows southbound A-85/QC-185 as of this past July.  The A-85 coverage begins around 3:50:00.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on December 13, 2020, 02:17:21 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.

You're right. The daily volume varies from 6100 to 14500, as of latest MTQ data, the highest figures closer to Riviere-du-Loup, and the lowest closer to QC/NB border.

For the rest, works will slow down a bit for the winter, but are already on a good way; I even expect some parts of the freeway to open late-2021.

Future exits will be, north to south:

- Exit 85: Route de la Station, Saint-Antonin (close to Irving Service Station/Truck Stop).
- Exit 71: Chemin Tache Ouest, Saint-Hubert-de-Riviere-du-Loup.
- Exit 66 (Southbound Only): 10e Rang, rue Principale (west), Saint-Honore-de-Temiscouata.
- Exit 60: QC-291, rue Talbot, St-Honore-de-Temiscouata (also leads to Saint-Elzear-de-Temiscouata).
- Exit 56 (Northbound Only): rue Principale (east), Saint-Honore-de-Temiscouata.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on June 15, 2023, 01:56:40 AM
Quote from: Richard3 on December 13, 2020, 02:17:21 AM
Quote from: froggie on December 10, 2019, 12:45:33 PM
Is there really that much daily traffic that far north?  The PDF mentions a daily volume of 7K, with 26% trucks.

You're right. The daily volume varies from 6100 to 14500, as of latest MTQ data, the highest figures closer to Riviere-du-Loup, and the lowest closer to QC/NB border.

For the rest, works will slow down a bit for the winter, but are already on a good way; I even expect some parts of the freeway to open late-2021.

Future exits will be, north to south:

- Exit 85: Route de la Station, Saint-Antonin (close to Irving Service Station/Truck Stop).
- Exit 71: Chemin Tache Ouest, Saint-Hubert-de-Riviere-du-Loup.
- Exit 66 (Southbound Only): 10e Rang, rue Principale (west), Saint-Honore-de-Temiscouata.
- Exit 60: QC-291, rue Talbot, St-Honore-de-Temiscouata (also leads to Saint-Elzear-de-Temiscouata).
- Exit 56 (Northbound Only): rue Principale (east), Saint-Honore-de-Temiscouata.

I know, there's a lot of dust on that thread, but I just put it back on the top of the pile, since the A-85 status was included in the Quebec Roads thread. So let me take a bit of an update.

Here's an enlargeable map that shows the entire project, between A-20 and the NB border. (https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/reseau-routier/projets-routiers/BSL-Gaspesie-IDLM/autoroute-85-claude-bechard/Documents/Documentation/Cartes/carte-base-ar85.pdf)  The informations on the map are in French.

The A-85 completion project, going on around 25 miles (40 km), was separated in 7 segments, from north to south, as follows:

- Segment 1: from km markers 89.0 to 85.6, opened on November 11th 2021
- Segment 2: from km markers 85.6 to 77.3, opened on September 7th 2022
- Segment 3: from km markers 77.3 to 73.3, also opened on September 7th 2022
- Segment 4: from km markers 73.3 to 67.7, is under construction now
- Segment 5: from km markers 67.7 to 63.0, is also under construction now
- Segment 6: from km markers 63.0 to 57.2, opened on November 2nd 2022
- Segment 7: from km markers 57.2 to 49.0, is under construction now.

Actually, the most advanced segments still under construction are segments 4 and 5, the segment 7 was the last to get into works, in winter of 2023.  Next openings are expected in 2024, and the last segment opening is scheduled for the end of 2026.  If I have the chance to go there (out of my work as a semi driver), I'll take some pics for you.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: seicer on October 05, 2023, 02:25:16 PM
I get a 404 error on that map.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Stephane Dumas on October 05, 2023, 04:54:46 PM
Quote from: seicer on October 05, 2023, 02:25:16 PM
I get a 404 error on that map.

Fortunately, the Wayback Machine have archived a copy of the map. https://web.archive.org/web/20230507064132/https://www.transports.gouv.qc.ca/fr/projets-infrastructures/reseau-routier/projets-routiers/BSL-Gaspesie-IDLM/autoroute-85-claude-bechard/Documents/Documentation/Cartes/carte-base-ar85.pdf
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: seicer on October 05, 2023, 05:17:19 PM
Ah - with the recent forum issues, it was surfacing an old post as new.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: cbeach40 on October 16, 2023, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

Until the typical milquetoast American driver enters a driving environment full of rampaging Québécois maniacs. Tears will be shed.  :-D
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: 1995hoo on October 16, 2023, 11:03:52 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

That typo has me picturing a proliferation of billboards saying things like "Enlarge your penis now" or "I have gained access to your webcam" or "Camp Lejeune has settled."
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Rothman on October 16, 2023, 01:35:15 PM
I don't think Americans would drive to Ottawa first to go to Nova Scotia...
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on October 17, 2023, 05:06:16 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 16, 2023, 01:35:15 PM
I don't think Americans would drive to Ottawa first to go to Nova Scotia...

Driving QC-NB-NS on TCH for my job, I see more license plates from Ontario, Alberta and Quebec than all US states reunited. Even in summer.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Rothman on October 17, 2023, 07:03:52 AM
Quote from: Richard3 on October 17, 2023, 05:06:16 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 16, 2023, 01:35:15 PM
I don't think Americans would drive to Ottawa first to go to Nova Scotia...

Driving QC-NB-NS on TCH for my job, I see more license plates from Ontario, Alberta and Quebec than all US states reunited. Even in summer.
Well, of course, given the convoluted route Americans would have to take going that way to get to NS.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: zzcarp on October 17, 2023, 02:37:20 PM
Quote from: Rothman on October 17, 2023, 07:03:52 AM
Quote from: Richard3 on October 17, 2023, 05:06:16 AM
Quote from: Rothman on October 16, 2023, 01:35:15 PM
I don't think Americans would drive to Ottawa first to go to Nova Scotia...

Driving QC-NB-NS on TCH for my job, I see more license plates from Ontario, Alberta and Quebec than all US states reunited. Even in summer.
Well, of course, given the convoluted route Americans would have to take going that way to get to NS.

From Colorado, it would be 41 hours (2,735 miles) of driving to drive to Sydney, NS (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Westminster,+Colorado/Sydney,+NS,+Canada/@41.9713851,-93.1871298,5z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x876b881ea2597f9f:0xa8cf57703f744417!2m2!1d-105.0372046!2d39.8366528!3m4!1m2!1d-77.0371289!2d44.201624!3s0x89d7d73e94a09069:0xcda8b94fa2d58a37!1m5!1m1!1s0x4b67fb367e723415:0xa783539b7b308087!2m2!1d-60.194224!2d46.1367899!3e0?entry=ttu) via Highway 401 in Ontario/Autoroute 20 in Quebec, then the TCH to Sydney versus 41 hours (2,747 miles) using I-80 to I-90 to I-95 (https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Westminster,+Colorado/Sydney,+NS,+Canada/@45.9096422,-90.2407165,5z/data=!4m19!4m18!1m10!1m1!1s0x876b881ea2597f9f:0xa8cf57703f744417!2m2!1d-105.0372046!2d39.8366528!3m4!1m2!1d-83.071859!2d41.3919561!3s0x883bc801dc65a8dd:0x326e726dee5d7145!1m5!1m1!1s0x4b67fb367e723415:0xa783539b7b308087!2m2!1d-60.194224!2d46.1367899!3e0?entry=ttu) and crossing in Maine. So it's really a wash and not that convoluted for anyone in Detroit or points west. Though I suggest that few people from here are actually heading on road trips to NS.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Henry on October 17, 2023, 09:03:16 PM
Quote from: 1995hoo on October 16, 2023, 11:03:52 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

That typo has me picturing a proliferation of billboards saying things like "Enlarge your penis now" or "I have gained access to your webcam" or "Camp Lejeune has settled."
Talk about a huge Freudian slip there! :banghead:

It's obvious that what I meant would replace the m's with n's; thanks for pointing it out.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: LilianaUwU on October 25, 2023, 06:31:22 PM
Quote from: cbeach40 on October 16, 2023, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

Until the typical milquetoast American driver enters a driving environment full of rampaging Québécois maniacs. Tears will be shed.  :-D

At least Québécois drivers don't have an entire bad driving stereotype named after them. Am I right, Massachusetts?
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: cbeach40 on October 26, 2023, 12:53:55 PM
Quote from: LilianaUwU on October 25, 2023, 06:31:22 PM
Quote from: cbeach40 on October 16, 2023, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

Until the typical milquetoast American driver enters a driving environment full of rampaging Québécois maniacs. Tears will be shed.  :-D

At least Québécois drivers don't have an entire bad driving stereotype named after them. Am I right, Massachusetts?

(https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRJnh37R8BDLXO4IcSa_CDF09dWYFCnkxr5RQ&usqp=CAU)
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Brandon on November 26, 2023, 09:34:50 AM
Quote from: LilianaUwU on October 25, 2023, 06:31:22 PM
Quote from: cbeach40 on October 16, 2023, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

Until the typical milquetoast American driver enters a driving environment full of rampaging Québécois maniacs. Tears will be shed.  :-D

At least Québécois drivers don't have an entire bad driving stereotype named after them. Am I right, Massachusetts?

Illinois has entered the chat: FIB, FIP, FISH.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: hotdogPi on November 26, 2023, 09:56:18 AM
Massachusetts may have a bad driver stereotype, but they don't have bad drivers any more than other states do. The crash rate is low compared to other states, and roads have slightly higher hourly capacity here than they do in much of the US. New England is the only part of the US without slow left lane hogs.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: cbeach40 on November 27, 2023, 10:30:46 AM
Quote from: Brandon on November 26, 2023, 09:34:50 AM
Quote from: LilianaUwU on October 25, 2023, 06:31:22 PM
Quote from: cbeach40 on October 16, 2023, 10:50:01 AM
Quote from: Henry on October 10, 2023, 10:22:04 PM
When this is completed, the Trans-Canada Highway will have its longest continuous freeway section, going from west of Ottawa to the middle of Nova Scotia, spamming four provinces in the process. American tourists should feel right at home driving on it :cheers:

Until the typical milquetoast American driver enters a driving environment full of rampaging Québécois maniacs. Tears will be shed.  :-D

At least Québécois drivers don't have an entire bad driving stereotype named after them. Am I right, Massachusetts?

Illinois has entered the chat: FIB, FIP, FISH.

Illinois has bad drivers?
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D


Illinois enters the chat then is immediately sent out for being a pretender.


Quote from: cbeach40 on February 28, 2018, 04:53:52 PM

Quote from: jakeroot on February 28, 2018, 04:34:58 PM
Quote from: MNHighwayMan on February 28, 2018, 03:30:33 PM
Quote from: jakeroot on February 28, 2018, 02:16:33 PM
Besides, I've been to Chicago. They're not that bad. Maybe they can't merge, but otherwise they're pretty good.

:rofl:

(emphasis added)

....

Fine. Can someone explain to me, why the fuck Chicago drivers are so bad? I guarantee you none of the issues are exclusive to Chicago (or even a combination thereof).

They aren't. Collision rates are fairly typical for a city that size, and saturation flow rate is comparable to similar centres so driver behaviour is standard. There's nothing empirical to it.

If anything, Chicago drivers are rather unremarkable one way or another.

Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: vdeane on November 27, 2023, 11:08:14 AM
I feel like a lot of people who complain about "bad drivers" really mean that the "bad drivers" are more aggressive than the complainer would prefer.  That's certainly the case with NYC.  Maybe Boston too, though I'll note that I-95 between Providence and Boston is the only place a passenger car ran me off the road.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: froggie on November 27, 2023, 07:40:50 PM
Quote from: 1 on November 26, 2023, 09:56:18 AM
New England is the only part of the US without slow left lane hogs.

I'd dispute this.
Title: Re: Autoroute 85 Status?
Post by: Richard3 on November 28, 2023, 11:44:09 PM
Bad drivers?

"- I don't drive bad, I avoid potholes!", said a Quebec driver.

:-D :-D :-D