The motorway is named after the historical region of Thrace, the northern (Bulgarian) part of which it spans from west to east.

The total length of Trakia motorway is 360 km (220 mi) and the final section opened on 15 July 2013[1] after 40 years of construction.

At its east end, nearby Burgas, Trakia motorway will merge with the planned Cherno More motorway (A5) providing fast access from the south to the city of Varna and the beach resorts on the Black Sea.

The construction of the motorway began in 1973 and the first 10 km from Sofia to Novi Han entered in service in 1978.

However, the contract was cancelled in 2008 and the sections between Stara Zagora and Karnobat (lots 2, 3 and 4) were approved for EU funds financing.