The main road from Fredericton to Saint John was first numbered Route 7 in 1965.

The Vanier Highway, originally Route 12 when it was partially opened in Fredericton, was redesignated as part of Route 7 when it was fully completed to Oromocto in 1976, and a section of the Broad Road through Geary was bypassed in the early 1980s.

Starting in 2007 planning commenced to construct animal fencing along a large section of Route 7.

Because the majority of Route 7 runs through CFB Gagetown, environmental assessments and approval had to be obtained from the Department of National Defence.

In October 2013, the Welsford Bypass opened and the uncontrolled section of Route 7 was renamed Eagle Rock Road.