Kan-Etsu (関越) is the kanji acronym of Kantō (関東) and the old Echigo Province (越後国) comprising modern-day Niigata Prefecture.

The expressway parallels National Route 17 and the Jōetsu Shinkansen of East Japan Railway Company for most of its length.

[7] On the night of 16 December 2020, about 1,000 vehicles were trapped on the expressway after a trailer blocked it off due to it becoming stuck in the snow.

In response, the company that manages the route supplied drivers who were stuck on the road until the next morning.

[8] The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force was also deployed to the expressway to aid in the distribution of supplies to the stranded drivers.