The highway was first given the '11' designation in 1958, and it originally followed South Fraser Way through Abbotsford, being re-routed onto the four-lane Sumas Way in the mid-1980s.

In the south, Highway 11 begins at the Huntingdon Canada–US border crossing, where it connects with Washington State Route 9.

[10] The trumpet interchange leading to Horne Avenue was constructed before the CPR overhead, which was completed around 1984.

[11] In 2013, the project of Highway 11 widening at the south end of the Sumas Border to Vye Road was announced.

It includes an extension of the Nexus lane to reduce travel times and improve safety.