[3] Once this upgrade is completed, it will close the last gap in the nearly continuous freeway section of the Trans-Canada between Arnprior, Ontario, and Antigonish, Nova Scotia, and for an even longer interprovincial freeway route between Windsor, Ontario and Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Running between Rivière-du-Loup (at a junction with Autoroute 20) and a junction with New Brunswick Route 2 at the Quebec-New Brunswick border, A-85 when complete will be the only controlled access highway link between the Maritime Provinces and the rest of the country.

A-85 is projected to be approximately 100 km (60 mi) long when construction is complete and will replace Route 185, which has been called one of the deadliest highways in Canada.

Originally signed as Route 185 when built, it was designed as A-85 in 2005 following extensive rehabilitation.

The southern section extends from the New Brunswick border (km 0) to north of Saint-Louis-du-Ha!

In 2010, the Quebec government announced that A-85 would be named for Claude Béchard, a longtime Member of the National Assembly from Bas-Saint-Laurent.

After one last exit at Fraserville Road (km 96), the A-85 merges with westbound A-20 at the Saint Lawrence River.

Also in 2014, the Notre-Dame-du-Lac and Cabano bypasses were connected, and then in 2015, the freeway was extended to km 48.