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 Mexico–United States 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 the one-way couplet of South El Paso Street northbound and South Stanton Street southbound to Paisano Drive. The route is concurrent with US 62 from the border to Paisano Drive, where US 85 turns west while US 62 turns east. One block west of El Paso Street, US 85 intersects South Santa Fe Street, which connects to Loop 375. West of downtown, the route becomes a freeway, paralleling the Rio Grande and the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad and the BNSF Railway west of I-10 and Loop 375. After merging with I-10 and US 180, US 85 remains concurrent with them for the remainder of its length in Texas in greater El Paso's west side and upper valley regions. US 85 intersects SH 20 at Mesa Street. At Artcraft Road, the route intersects SH 178, which, together with New Mexico State Road 136, connects the route to the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. The route then intersects the northern segment of Loop 375, providing connection to Canutillo and Fort Bliss. The highway then leaves El Paso and intersects Spur 37 in Vinton just west of Westway. In Anthony, the route intersects FM 1905 before crossing the state line into New Mexico.[2][3]
History
US 85 was one of the original U.S. Numbered Highways established by the American Association of State Highway Officials. The first AASHO route log, published in 1927, did not place US 85 in Texas but instead as terminating in Las Cruces, New Mexico.[4] AASHO extended the route south to El Paso in 1946.[1]
The original alignment of US 85 in Texas was entirely concurrent with the former route of US 80 beginning at Texas Ave.[5] and following Mesa St. and then Doniphan Dr. to the New Mexico state line[6] along the current SH 20.[2][3] US 85 was relocated to its current alignment in 1974,[1] partially following the former routing of U.S. Route 80 (Alt.) after the completion of I-10 in El Paso. The current local TxDOT map shows US 85 terminating on Paisano Dr. at US 62 at S. El Paso St. with no concurrent along US 62 to the border.[2] However, the present route log of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials, as AASHO is now known, shows US 85 joining US 62 to the border.[7]
South end of I-10/US 180 overlap; west end of Loop 375 overlap; clockwise terminus of Loop 375; eastbound left exit and northbound left entrance; I-10 exit 13
