It spans 173 kilometers (107 mi) as a four-lane, tolled, controlled-access highway.

It crosses the country from north to south, starting at the border with Serbia near Kumanovo and ending at the Evzoni-Bogorodica border crossing with Greece near Gevgelija.

As a part of the Pan-European corridor X (along with the E70), connecting to North Macedonia's biggest cities, it is one of the vital highways for Macedonian infrastructure, and significant works are currently undergoing for its reconstruction and enhancement.

Nevertheless, in the 30-kilometer (19 mi) part between Skopje Airport and Veles, the motorway splits, creating a gradual distance of several kilometers.

Also, the 33-kilometer (21 mi) Smokvica–Demir Kapija section was finished in 2018, thus providing a highway between the Serbian and Greek borders.