Route

The route starts in the Durban Central Business District. For the first few kilometres of its length, it runs parallel to the N3 on both sides as Berea Road North and Berea Road South. At the Tollgate Bridge, it then turns to the south and passes through Mayville, before crossing under the N3 and passing through Sherwood.

At 45th Cutting, the route becomes a dual-carriageway freeway for the rest of its length. The route passes over the N2 (providing no access to it), and passes through Westville

Westville, KwaZulu-Natal

Westville is an area near Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, which is situated 20 km inland from the Durban city centre. Formerly an independent municipality governed by a Town Council, it now forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which also includes Durban...

 and Cowies Hill

Cowies Hill

Cowies Hill is a small upmarket residential suburb of Pinetown in Durban, South Africa. Its eponymous hill is a major feature in the Comrades Marathon which is held between Durban and Pietermaritzburg every year....

. The route then briefly touches the N3 at the Paradise Valley interchange, before passing through Pinetown

Pinetown

Pinetown is a small city just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Pinetown is situated 16 km west of Durban at an elevation of 1,000 to 1,300 feet . It was established in 1850 around the Wayside Hotel, itself built the year before along the main wagon route between Durban and...

.

After Pinetown, the route goes up Field's Hill, a 3km 1:15 gradient (this section is notorious for heavy vehicle accidents that can close an entire carriageway of the road). The route then passes through Kloof and Gillitts, before the R103 diverges, providing access to Hillcrest

Hillcrest, KwaZulu-Natal

Hillcrest is a settlement within eThekwini in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms a part of the Upper Highway Area.-History:Hillcrest was formerly a sleepy village, governed by its own Town Board on the outskirts of Durban that has now become a booming suburb incorporated into the eThekwini...

. The route then passes south of Hillcrest and through Assagay before merging with the N3, where it ends.

The route is roughly 35km long.

Significance

The M13 is the main thoroughfare to Durban for residents of Westville, Pinetown, Kloof, Gillitts and Hillcrest.

The M13 between the Paradise Valley interchange and its termination at the N3 used to be part of the N3 route until 1986, when the N3 was re-routed to pass south of Pinetown, Westmead and Winston Park

Winston Park

Winston Park is a small residential area that lies between Gillitts and Hillcrest in the Upper Highway Area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.Properties in the area are relatively expensive and houses range in size from small condominium developments to several mansions.There is a small school called...

. The M13 remains an alternative route to the N3, and is commonly used by motorists wishing to avoid the Mariannhill Toll Plaza, located on the N3 outside Westmead.