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U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota

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This article is about the section of U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota. For the entire length of the route, see U.S. Route 85.
U.S. Highway 85 marker U.S. Highway 85 marker
U.S. Highway 85
CanAm Highway
Map
US 85 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by NDDOT
Length255.063 mi[1] (410.484 km)
Existed1926–present
Major junctions
South end US 85 at the South Dakota state line
Major intersections
North end Highway 35 at Canada–US border at Fortuna
Location
CountryUnited States
StateNorth Dakota
CountiesBowman, Slope, Stark, Billings, McKenzie, Williams, Divide
Highway system
  • North Dakota State Highway System
← US 83→ ND 89

U.S. Route 85 (US 85) is a part of the U.S. Highway System that travels from the Mexican border in El Paso, Texas, north to the Canadian border in Fortuna, North Dakota. In the state of North Dakota, US 85 travels from the South Dakota state line north to the Canadian border.

Route description

[edit]

US 85 enters North Dakota in the southwest part of the state. The first city on its route is Bowman at the junction of US 12. Continuing north, it passes between North Dakota's two highest points, White Butte and Black Butte. Near Amidon US 85 heads east for nine miles (14 km) before going back north along the Little Missouri National Grassland for about 125 miles (201 km). Near Belfield it junctions with Interstate 94 (I-94). After running concurrently with North Dakota Highway 200 (ND 200), it eventually passes through part of the scenic Badlands, crosses the Little Missouri River and passes near the Theodore Roosevelt National Park (North Unit).

The Laurentian Divide along US 85, north of Williston

Then, at Watford City it travels west for 16 miles (26 km) where it turns back north before Alexander. US 85 continues north as ND 200 turns west toward Montana. South of Williston it crosses the Missouri River. The stretch from Watford City to Williston is in the process of being converted into an undivided four-lane highway, and it should be substantially completed in 2014.[needs update] A few miles later, it meets with US 2 where the two overlap for 19 miles (31 km) as an expressway that bypasses Williston to the northwest. After US 2 heads east, US 85 continues north to a concurrency with ND 5. From there it is seven miles (11 km) to Fortuna where US 85 heads back north for its remaining six miles (9.7 km) to the Canadian border.[1]

Major intersections

[edit]
CountyLocationmi[1]kmDestinationsNotes
Bowman​0.0000.000
 US 85 south – Buffalo, Belle Fourche		Continuation into South Dakota
Bowman16.46126.491
 US 12 west – Rhame		Southern end of US 12 concurrency
17.26527.785
 US 12 east – Hettinger		Northern end of US 12 concurrency
Slope​50.09880.625
 ND 21 east – New England		Western terminus of ND 21
Stark​75.762121.927 I-94 – Bismarck, BillingsI-94 Exit 42
Billings
 No major junctions
McKenzie​107.645173.238
 ND 200 east – Killdeer		Southern end of ND 200 concurrency
Watford City140.831226.646


 US 85 Bus. north / ND 23 east – Watford City, New Town		Southern terminus of US 85 Bus., western terminus of ND 23
​145.659234.415

 US 85 Bus. south – Watford City		Northern terminus of US 85 Bus.
​159.344256.439
 ND 68 west – Sidney		Eastern terminus of ND 68
Alexander160.505258.308

 US 85 Bus. north – Alexander		Southern terminus of US 85 Bus.
163.506263.137

 US 85 Bus. south – Alexander		Northern terminus of US 85 Bus.
​164.424264.615
 ND 200 west – Fairview, Sidney		Northern end of ND 200 concurrency
Williams​183.743295.706

 US 2 west / ND 1804 north – Bainville		Southern end of US 2 and ND 1804 concurrency
Williston186.747300.540


 US 2 Bus. east / ND 1804 south		Northern end of ND 1804 concurrency, western terminus of US 2 Bus.
189.207304.499

 US 2 Bus. west		Eastern terminus of US 2 Bus.
​201.265323.905
 US 2 east		Northern end of US 2 concurrency
​216.995349.220 ND 50
Divide​240.605387.216
 ND 5 east – Crosby		Southern end of ND 5 concurrency
Fortuna248.670400.196
 ND 5 west – Westby		Northern end of ND 5 concurrency
​255.063410.484Canada–United States border at Fortuna–Oungre Border Crossing
Highway 35 north – Weyburn, ReginaContinuation into Saskatchewan
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c North Dakota Department of Transportation (2014). North Dakota Route and Mileage Map (PDF) (Map). Bismarck: North Dakota Department of Transportation. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
[edit]
KML file (edit • help)
Template:Attached KML/U.S. Route 85 in North Dakota
KML is not from Wikidata


U.S. Route 85
Previous state:
South Dakota 		North Dakota Next state:
Terminus
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