It is owned and operated by East Nippon Expressway Company.

It forms the middle section of the Trans-Hokkaidō Expressway [ja].

The expressway is connects the east of Hokkaidō with central regions including the greater Sapporo urban area.

All future extensions of these two routes will be constructed according to the New Direct Control System[3] and are expected to operate toll-free upon completion.

At the time of its opening it was used by an average of only 650 vehicles a day, the lowest among all national expressways in Japan.