In 1975, it was assigned the name General José Artigas, the foremost national hero of Uruguay.

[1] It is one of the most important highways in the country along with Route 5, connecting the south coast near Rafael Perazza with Bella Unión in the extreme northwest.

The road is approximately 592 kilometres (368 mi) in length.

67 of Route 1, its distance notation uses the same Kilometre Zero reference as Routes 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and IB, which is the Pillar of Peace of Plaza de Cagancha in the Centro of Montevideo.

[4] These are the populated places Route 3 passes through, as well as its main junctions with other National Roads.