Officials said that Highway 85 will be completed in autumn 2026 [4] after a site visit to the New Brunswick border on Tuesday, June 30 [5].
The completion of the project marks the end of a quarter-century effort to improve regional connectivity and infrastructure between provinces.
Denis Leduc, members of the media, and elected officials from the Ministry of Transport and Sustainable Mobility visited the construction site to review the final phase of the project. The delegation said that only six kilometres of road remain to be built [1] to finish the route.
The total length of the Highway 85 project spans 94 kilometres [2]. This infrastructure effort has been underway for 25 years [3] — a timeline that reflects the complexity and scale of the regional development.
The site visit served as a public update to inform stakeholders that the project is entering its final stages. Officials said the remaining work is on track to meet the autumn deadline [4].
Construction at the New Brunswick border represents the final link in the network. The project aims to streamline transport and mobility across the border, reducing transit times, and improving safety for drivers in the region.
“Only six kilometres of road remain to be built”
The imminent completion of Highway 85 resolves a long-standing infrastructure gap that has persisted for two and a half decades. By finalizing the 94-kilometre route to the New Brunswick border, the project will likely enhance inter-provincial trade and travel efficiency, concluding one of the region's most protracted construction timelines.
