State Route 85

Arizona State Route 85

SR 85 is a major highway connecting Buckeye to the Mexican Border at Lukeville, via Gila Bend and Ajo. The state route is the only access from Phoenix and Tucson to Puerto Penasco, known as Rocky Point, a favorite beach getaway of Phoenix residents.

The original highway was designated in 1936 between Gila Bend and Ajo. In 1956, the road was extended south to Lukeville along a county road (which was constructed in 1942).

In 1977, SR 85 was extended north from Gila Bend to Buckeye and downtown Phoenix to replace U.S. 80, which was decommissioned. The route was truncated back to Buckeye in 1993 with the completion of Interstate 10 through Phoenix.

State Route 85 is a major truck route and part of the CANAMEX corridor, as well as a designated truck bypass of Phoenix. The road is extremely busy, and much of it remained in two lane configuration (as built in 1956 as U.S. 80) until more recently. MCDOT and ADOT are working on projects to improve the road by converting it to a full freeway over the next 10 years.1

References:

  1. http://www.azdot.gov/Highways /Projects/SR85/index.asp

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Page Updated Monday October 08, 2007.