It links the inner-city suburb of Addington, where it starts at the western end of Brougham Street, to just north-east of the satellite centre of Rolleston in the Selwyn District.

The motorway continues south-west, crossing Barrington Street (where there is an interchange) and Lincoln Road and passing to the south of Middleton.

The first section of the motorway, a short two-lane arterial, opened in 1981, linking Brougham Street with Curletts Road.

A 7.5 km extension of the motorway was constructed to Robinsons Road south of Templeton where it joined SH 1, which was upgraded as far as Rolleston.

At the northern end, $40 million will be spent on SH 76 (Brougham Street) to prioritise north-south public transport routes, create safer, dedicated walking and cycling access, and ensuring better east-west traffic flow and capacity.