Arizona State Route 85

State Route 85 (SR 85) is a 128.86-mile-long (207.38 km) state highway in the U.S. state of Arizona. The highway runs from the United States-Mexico border near Lukeville to the north ending at Interstate 10 (I-10) in Buckeye. The highway also intersects I-8 in Gila Bend and serves as a connector between I-8 and I-10 and for travelers between Phoenix and Yuma as well as San Diego. SR 85 between I-10 and I-8, as well as I-8 between SR 85 and I-10 in Casa Grande, is touted as a bypass of the Phoenix area for long-distance travelers on I-10.

State Route 85
SR 85 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by ADOT
Length128.86 mi[1] (207.38 km)
Existed1936–present
Tourist
routes		 Organ Pipe Cactus Parkway
Major junctions
South end Fed. 8 at Mexican border at Lukeville
  I-8 in Gila Bend
North end I-10 in Buckeye
Location
CountiesPima, Maricopa
Highway system
  • Arizona State Highway System
← SR 84ASR 86 →

SR 85 was established in 1936 as a route between Gila Bend and Ajo. It was extended southward to the US-Mexico border in 1955, and extended northward to Phoenix when it replaced U.S. Route 80 (US 80) in 1977. The northern end of the highway was realigned in 1994 onto the connecting highway between I-10 and Buckeye. The remaining portion of the highway between Buckeye and Phoenix was gradually turned over to the cities and county along the route during the 1990s with the final portion turned over in 2001.

Route description

The southern terminus of SR 85 is located at the United States-Mexico border near Lukeville in Pima County. From Lukeville to Why, SR 85 is designated the Organ Pipe Cactus Parkway by ADOT.[2][3] The road continues across the border into Mexico to the town of Sonoita as Mexican Federal Highway 8. SR 85 heads north from the border as a two-lane road, passing through the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The highway leaves the monument boundary and heads to a junction with SR 86 in Why. SR 86 heads east from this junction towards Tucson and southeastern Arizona. SR 85 heads northwest from this junction to the town of Ajo. From Ajo, the highway heads north and enters the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range. While within the range, the highway enters Maricopa County. After the highway passes through the range, it continues towards the north to a junction with I-8 in Gila Bend. After passing I-8, the highway intersects the business loop of I-8 and turns towards the east to run concurrently with business loop along Pima Street in Gila Bend. The two highways split, with the business loop heading towards the southeast and SR 85 heading northeast providing access to Gila Bend Municipal Airport[1][3]

Markers for SR 85 and two Interstates

SR 85 continues north from Gila Bend towards the Phoenix Metropolitan Area. The mileposts north of Gila Bend reflect the mileage of old US 80 in proximity to the California state line.[4] This stretch of highway north of Gila Bend is a part of the National Highway System.[5] The highway passes near the western edge of the Sonoran Desert National Monument and also provides access to the Buckeye Hills Recreational Area. SR 85 continues northward to a crossing of the Gila River as it nears Buckeye. The highway intersects Buckeye Road which is where the original routing of US 80 and later SR 85 followed into Phoenix before being rerouted onto its current alignment. The highway continues towards the north, crossing over the Buckeye Canal before reaching its northern terminus at exit 112 on I-10.[1][3]

History

The first numbered highway along the SR 85 corridor was established in 1927 between Gila Bend and Phoenix as US 80. At the time, it was only paved from Phoenix to Hassayampa. Although not paved between Hassayampa and Gila Bend, it was an improved road.[6] This original routing of US 80 still exists as Old US 80 west of the SR 85 alignment.[7] A dirt road between Gila Bend and Ajo did exist at this time, but it was not a part of the state highway system.[6] By 1935, the entire route of US 80 between Gila Bend and Phoenix had been paved. The road south of Gila Bend had also been improved to a gravel road.[8]

In 1936, SR 85 was established, but it only extended as far north as Gila Bend and as far south as Ajo.[9] By 1938, SR 85 had been paved as well as the portion between Ajo and Why that would eventually become part of SR 85. The portion between Why and the border with Mexico began showing up on maps at this time as a gravel road.[10] In 1943, the portion of the highway between Ajo and Why was added to the state highway system, but as SR 86, when it was extended west from Tucson to Ajo.[11] In 1955, the highway was extended to Lukeville at the United States-Mexico border with an overlap with SR 86 between Ajo and Why when a county road was added to SR 85.[12]

In 1973, the connector between I-10 and Baseline Road was established, and was redesignated in 1978 as a spur route of SR 85.[13] As the old, indirect US 80 was removed from Arizona, SR 85 was extended north in 1977 over the old alignment of US 80 to Buckeye and extended east to Phoenix.[14] Portions of the route in Buckeye and Phoenix were turned over to their respective cities for maintenance in 1990.[15] The following year, a portion of the highway between Avondale and Phoenix was turned over to Maricopa County for maintenance.[16] (This portion is designated today as MC 85.) Also in 1991, the overlap between SR 85 and SR 86 was eliminated and the western terminus of SR 86 was changed to its junction with Route 85 in Why.[17] In 1994, the northern end of SR 85 was moved onto the SR 85 Spur that connected to I-10 and the remaining portions along the old alignment to the east were redesignated as a temporary route of SR 85.[18] In 1999, the portion of the old route in Avondale was turned over to the city for maintenance.[19] The portion of the old route around the state capitol complex, the last remaining section of the old route between Phoenix and Buckeye, was turned over to the city of Phoenix in 2001.[20]

Future

The segment of SR 85 between Buckeye and Gila Bend is a connector between I-8 and I-10, and serves both as a connector from I-8 from San Diego, California to Phoenix. This segment is being upgraded to a divided highway, and is planned to become a freeway. Most of the four-lane road upgrades have already been completed.[21]

In 2010, an environmental study into building a freeway-to-freeway interchange in Gila Bend from SR 85 to I-8 was completed by ADOT and the Federal Highway Administration. The study found no significant impact on the local environment and outlined a finalized full freeway standard design, bypassing the I-8 Business/Maricopa Road intersection SR 85 currently traverses through. A diamond interchange (Exit 121) is planned at Maricopa Road/I-8 Business along with a second diamond interchange slightly northeast of the proposed Exit 121.[22]

Major intersections

Exit numbers reflect mileposts on former US 80.

CountyLocationmi[23]kmExitDestinationsNotes
PimaLukeville0.0000.000 Fed. 8 southLukeville Port of Entry at Mexico–United States border; continues south as Mexican Federal Highway 8
Why27.4144.11 SR 86 east – TucsonWestern terminus of SR 86
MaricopaGila Bend79.95128.67 I-8 east – TucsonExit 116 on I-8
80.53129.60 I-8 BL west (Pima Street) to I-8 west – San DiegoSouth end of concurrency with I-8 Bus.; former US 80
83.20133.90 I-8 BL east (Butterfield Trail) to I-8 east – TucsonNorth end of concurrency with I-8 Bus.
83.43–
83.95		134.27–
135.10		 To SR 238 (Maricopa Road) – Maricopa
Buckeye101.23162.91138Lewis Prison Road to Patterson RoadInterchange
113.35182.42 MC 85 east – BuckeyePlanned interchange, western terminus of MC 85; former US 80
SR 30 (Tres Rios Freeway)Future interchange[24]
117.87189.69 I-10 – Phoenix, Los AngelesNorthern terminus; exit 112 on I-10
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

Planned Gila Bend realignment
CountyLocationmi[22]kmExitDestinationsNotes
SR 85 continues south
MaricopaGila Bend79.95
115.6		128.67
186.0		 I-8 westMileposts reset to reflect mileage on former US 80; south end of concurrency with I-8; exit 116 on I-8; NB access via Old SR 85 and I-8 Bus. (Pima Street); south end of freeway segment
118.0189.9118 I-8 eastPlanned flyover interchange; north end of concurrency with I-8; future exit 118 on I-8
121.0194.7121 To I-8 BL / SR 238 Planned interchange
​123.0197.9123Watermelon RoadPlanned interchange
SR 85 continues north as freeway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
  • Metropolitan Phoenix Freeways

References
  1. Staff. "2008 ADOT Highway Log" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 9, 2008.
  2. "Arizona Scenic Roads Map" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  3. Google (April 29, 2008). "Overview Map of SR 85" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  4. Hamilton, Alan (September 4, 2015). "AZ 85". Arizona Roads. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  5. Staff. "National Highway System (NHS) in Arizona" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 11, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  6. Auto Road Map of Arizona and New Mexico (Map). Rand McNally. 1927. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  7. Google (April 29, 2008). "Overview Map of Old US 80" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  8. Road Map of Arizona (Map). Arizona State Highway Department. 1935. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  9. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1936-P-584". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  10. Road Map of Arizona and New Mexico (Map). Rand McNally. 1938. Archived from the original on May 6, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  11. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1943-P-075". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  12. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1955-P-143". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  13. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1973-051". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  14. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1977-11-A-029". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  15. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolutions 1990-09-A-075 and 1990-09-A-076". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  16. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolutions 1991-07-A-058". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  17. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1991-08-A-062". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  18. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1994-11-A-063". Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  19. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 1999-11-A-054" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  20. Staff. "ADOT Right-of-Way Resolution 2001-09-A-072" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
  21. Staff. "State Route 85". Arizona Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on May 11, 2008. Retrieved April 28, 2008.
  22. "Final Environmental Assessment and Section 4(f) Evaluation" (PDF). PDF. Arizona Department of Transportation. February 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 9, 2016. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  23. Staff. "2013 ADOT AADT & KDT Report for Year - 2013 (State Routes)" (PDF). Arizona Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 28, 2015.
  24. DMJM Harris; AECOM (September 2007). Interstate 10–Hassayampa Valley Roadway Framework Study (PDF) (Report). Maricopa Association of Governments. ch. 6. Retrieved March 17, 2014.

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