The Pretoria Eastern Bypass is formed by the N1 highway, from the Brakfontein Interchange with the Ben Schoeman Freeway (N1; N14) in Centurion to the Doornpoort Interchange with the Platinum Highway (N4) in northern Pretoria, a length of approximately 30 km.

[1] It heads north-east from Brakfontein (bypassing Centurion CBD) and then turns north after the Flying Saucer Interchange with the R21 highway, eventually reaching the Proefplaas Interchange east of Pretoria CBD, where it meets the N4 highway (Maputo Corridor) coming from eMalahleni and Mbombela in the east.

[5][6] Before the opening of the Northern Bypass, the N4 national route, which is coming from Witbank and Mbombela in the east, passed westwards through Pretoria from the Proefplaas Interchange on regular city streets (today designated as the M2 and M4 roads) and exited Pretoria westbound as the Magalies Toll Route, a 20 km tolled highway to Hartbeespoort.

Before the opening of the Eastern Bypass, the N1 national route, which is coming from Johannesburg in the south, passed northwards through Pretoria on regular city streets (today designated as the R101) and exited Pretoria northbound on Lavender Road/Old Warmbaths Road.

Traffic coming from Polokwane in the north and heading towards towns south (and south-west) of Pretoria no-longer has to pass through the city centre.