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.

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.

The route heads north for 40 kilometres, becoming Ruth First Highway (formerly Northern Freeway[2]) after the M17 intersection.

It bypasses the Moses Mabhida Stadium and passes through Durban North (where Virginia Airport is located).

[7][8] A contractor was appointed by the National Roads Agency to repair the bridge in July 2023[9][10] and it was scheduled to be opened to traffic on 19 December 2023.