M4 (Durban)

Metropolitan route in eThekwini, South Africa

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Metropolitan route M4

Route information
Maintained by eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality
Length| 60.5 km (37.6 mi)
Major junctions
South end|  N2 / R102 near Umlazi
Major intersections|  M7 near Clairwood
R102 in Durban CBD
N3 / M13 in Durban CBD
M15 in Durban CBD
R102 in Durban CBD
M12 in Durban CBD
M17 near Durban CBD
M21 near Durban North
M41 in uMhlanga Rocks
M12 in uMhlanga Rocks
M27 near eMdloti
M43 near oThongathi
N2 near Ballito
North end|  R102 near Ballito
Location
Country| South Africa
Highway system

* Numbered routes of South Africa

| ←  M1| | →  M5

|
|

The M4 is a north–south metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and partially in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, South Africa.[1] It runs from the N2 at the defunct Durban International Airport to Ballito via the Durban Central Business District (CBD) and uMhlanga. The sections between the airport and the southern edge of the CBD, and between the northern edge of the CBD and the exit to uMhlanga are classified as freeway. On the section from the southern edge of the CBD (where the freeway ends) to the Bram Fischer Street/Soldier's Way junction, the M4 is cosigned with the R102.

## Route[edit]

The M4 begins at an interchange with the N2 Highway (Durban Outer Ring Road) and the R102 Road adjacent to the old Durban International Airport & AFB Durban (just east of Umlazi). It begins by going north-north-east for 12 kilometres as the Inkosi Albert Luthuli Highway (formerly Southern Freeway[2]), parallel to the R102, to reach the Durban Central Business District near the Port of Durban, where it stops being a highway and makes a left and a right turn to join the R102 and be co-signed with it through the city centre.

While co-signed with the R102, it is Julius Nyerere Street northwards and Market Street southwards (one-way streets). Just after passing under the N3 Highway in the CBD, the M4/R102 turn eastwards and become Johannes Nkosi Street eastwards and David Webster Street westwards (one-way streets).

At the Umgeni Road junction, the R102 becomes Umgeni Road northwards while the M4 remains facing eastwards (still one-way streets). Just after meeting the M12 by the Kingsmead Stadium, the M4 turns northwards to become Stalwart Simelane Street. It goes northwards for 40 kilometres, becoming Ruth First Highway (formerly Northern Freeway[2]), bypassing the Moses Mabhida Stadium and passing through Durban North (where Virginia Airport is located) before passing through uMhlanga Rocks, Tongaat Beach and Westbrook as the Leo Boyd Highway. After Westbrook, it exits the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and reaches Ballito, where it makes a left turn onto Ballito Drive and meets the N2 Highway again. It ends shortly thereafter at another junction with the R102 near Compensation.

## Incidents[edit]

### 2022 KwaZulu-Natal flood damage[edit]

The section of the M4 in La Mercy, where it crosses the Mdloti River, was damaged by the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods.[3][4] The South African National Defence Force helped in the rebuilding of the bridge.[3][4] The bridge was reopened on 10 July 2022.[5]

The section of the M4 by Tongaat Beach (Boys Town) was also washed away by the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods.[6][7] It was reopened on 26 August 2022.[6][7]

The section of the M4 crossing the Tongaat River was also damaged by the floods.[7][8] A contractor was appointed by the National Roads Agency to repair the bridge in July 2023.[9][10]

## References[edit]

1. ^ "RDDA South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis". National Department of Transport. May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
2. ^ a b "eThekwini municipality moves to remove colonial street names - eProperty News". eprop.co.za. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
3. ^ a b Martin, Guy (14 June 2022). "SANDF helps rebuild Durban's M4 bridge". defenceWeb. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
4. ^ a b Ngema, Thobeka. "PICS & VIDEO: Reconstruction of the uMdloti Bridge and M4 in La Mercy is under way". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
5. ^ Jonck, Johan (10 July 2022). "KZN Premier re-opens the M4 Umdloti bridge | Construction Safety". Retrieved 30 November 2022.
6. ^ a b Ngcoya, Zama. "M4 Boys Town section re-opened following flood damages". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
7. ^ a b c "On the road again after the M4 reopens • Tabloid Newspapers". tabloidmedia.co.za. 31 August 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
8. ^ juanventer (22 July 2022). "Chancers cross damaged Tongaat M4 bridge". North Coast Courier. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
9. ^ "KZN's M4 Tongaat River Bridge repairs resume". Freight News. 11 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.
10. ^ "KZN Department of Transport to introduce contractor to repair M4 oThongathi Bridge". IOL. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2023.

## External links[edit]

* eThekwini Online - Roads Home Page