The Cann Valley Highway was designated a state highway on 10 August 1960, and was formerly known as Cann Valley Road. As part of the Bicentennial Road Development Programme, the roadway was sealed along its entire length, the project being completed in March 1985. It was renamed the Monaro Highway on 25 October 1996, to match the highway to which it connects at the NSW border. Within Victoria, VicRoads has classified the Monaro Highway as an arterial road, with the road number 6760.