It has been dubbed Den grønne Snarvei which means 'the green shortcut' by the old Hedmark County Municipality.

Unlike the E6 over the Dovrefjell mountain range, National Road 3 is also never closed due to winter weather.

Much less is spent on Road 3, although 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) of four-lane motorway was opened in 2020, but not much more investment is planned.

From 1965 to 1992, National Road 3 followed a route from Ulsberg to Kongsvinger via Tynset and Elverum.

It is part of the newly built segment of the road between Skjærodden and Nygarden in Åmot Municipality.