The highway follows a route of 291 kilometres (181 mi) along the province's South Shore region fronting the Atlantic coast.

East of Hebbville to Hubbards, the highway is 2-lane controlled access, with the exception of a 3 km (2 mi) 4-lane divided freeway near Chester.

The highway has developed sporadically since the 1970s, with the 2-lane controlled access portion to Bridgewater being largely responsible for the abandonment of CN Rail's South Shore line, the former Halifax and Southwestern Railway.

Residents complained that the single exit east of the community had lengthened the trip for people heading west from Port Mouton.

[7][8] In 2009 alone, ten people died in automobile accidents on the highway, according to the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal.