As the main exports road of the country, through the Moín ports, 83% of the products are shipped abroad, equivalent to around 1500 trailer trucks.

It allows direct travel between the Caribbean coast of the country to the northwest canton of La Cruz in Guanacaste Province.

As it crosses the Braulio Carrillo National Park, there is lush greenery and vegetation as well as touristic points of interest along the road, but at the same time there is fog frequently and landslides are common through the rainy season.

There are two named sections, Braulio Carrillo Road (Spanish: Carretera Braulio Carrillo) from Tibás to Siquirres, and José Joaquín Trejos Fernández Road (Spanish: Carretera José Joaquín Trejos Fernández)[5] from Siquirres to Limón.

[8] A widening project of 107 km from two lanes to four lanes, two in each direction, starting at the junction with Route 4 at Frío river to Puerto Limón district center, was awarded to China Harbour Engineering Company (CHEC) in November 2017, with works starting in April 2018, and plans to deliver the widened road in the latter half of 2021.