Beginning in Pula, the largest city on the Istrian peninsula, it runs north to the Croatian motorway and expressway network at the Kanfanar interchange.

The motorway's national significance is reflected in the positive economic impact on the cities and towns it connects, as well as its importance to tourism in Croatia.

The A9 motorway construction works began in 1988 with its first section opening in 1991, the second one following the next year and extending the completed route to just 13.6 kilometres (8.5 miles).

By June 2011 the entire A9 route was brought up to motorway standard, except for the Mirna Bridge and the Limska Draga Viaduct.

[2] The motorway is of major importance to Croatia in terms of economic development, especially for tourism and as a transit and transport route.

The route largely runs about 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) inland relative to the west coast of Istria, serving a number of tourist resorts, such as Savudrija and Umag via the eponymous interchange with the Ž5002 and Ž5003 county roads, and Novigrad via the D301.

Between Kanfanar and Pula, the route turns more to the south and gradually approaches the west coast of the peninsula, bypassing Vodnjan and providing access to Fažana and Brijuni National Park.

There are a number of rest areas along the motorway providing various types of services, ranging from simple parking spaces and restrooms to filling stations and other facilities.

[8] As of September 2011 the motorway has ten interchanges, in addition to the roundabout at the northern terminus, providing access to numerous towns and cities and the Croatian state road network.

The system uses variable traffic signs to communicate changing driving conditions, possible restrictions, and other information to motorway users.

It comprises continuous box girders of varying depth, across five spans with a maximum height of 125 metres (410 feet).

The works were completed in 1981 and also included construction of a 22.6 kilometres (14.0 miles) long two-lane expressway section between Matulji and Lupoglav.

The 2A stage entailed construction of the second carriageway between Umag and Pula, except at the Mirna Bridge and the Limska Draga Viaduct.

At that moment a ticket system was introduced at section as the first tolled portion of the motorway that included the Mirna Bridge.

The concession provided for the takeover of the existing 54-kilometre (34 mi) section of the road, and a completed tube of the Učka Tunnel.

The construction of the Mirna and Limska draga viaducts and the stop lane on certain sections will follow the completion of works on the second pipe of the Učka tunnel, and by agreement between Bina-Istra and the concession providers.

The Slovenian motorway development company DARS made plans in 2010 to build the expressway, but as of 2021 no progress has been achieved.

[24][25] Traffic is regularly counted and reported by BINA Istra, operator of the motorway, and results are published by Hrvatske ceste.

[26] BINA Istra expects the motorway to carry more than 20,000 vehicles per day during peak tourist season periods.

Even though rest areas found along the A9 motorway generally follow this ranking system, there are considerable variations, as some of them offer extra services.