M4 (Cape Town) Explained

Country:ZAF
Type:CTM
Route:4
Maint:City of Cape Town and Western Cape Department of Transport and Public Works[1]
Map:Cape Town M4 route map.svg
Length Km:47.7
Direction A:North
Direction B:South
Terminus A: in Zonnebloem
Terminus B: near the Cape of Good Hope
Junction: in Zonnebloem
in Observatory
in Mowbray
in Mowbray
in Rondebosch
in Rondebosch
in Newlands
in Newlands
in Claremont
in Kenilworth
in Wynberg
in Plumstead
in Diep River
in Bergvliet
in Kirstenhof
in Kirstenhof
in Lakeside
in Muizenberg
in Kalk Bay
in Fish Hoek
in Gencairn
near Simon's Town
Previous Dab:Cape Town
Next Dab:Cape Town
Previous Type:M
Next Type:M
Previous Route:3
Next Route:5

The M4 is a long metropolitan route in the City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality in South Africa.[2] [3] It connects the Cape Town CBD with the Cape of Good Hope via Wynberg, Muizenberg and Fish Hoek.[4] [5] Originally, it was the main route connecting the Cape Town CBD with the Southern Suburbs and is thus named Main Road for much of its length. From the CBD to Kirstenhof, it is parallel to the M3 Freeway.

Route

The M4 begins at a junction with the M59 route (Buitenkant Street) in District Six (Zonnebloem; east of the Cape Town City Centre), just north of the District Six Museum and just east of the Cape Town City Hall. It begins by heading eastwards as Sir Lowry Road to fly over the N2 highway (Nelson Mandela Boulevard) and enter the Woodstock suburb. In Woodstock, it slowly turns towards the south and reaches the Cape Town Science Centre and Groote Schuur Hospital in Observatory, where it once again flies over the N2 highway (Settlers Way).

It continues southwards as Main Road from the N2 overbridge for 18 kilometres, through Mowbray, Rosebank, Rondebosch, Newlands, Claremont, Kenilworth, Wynberg, Plumstead, Diep River, Bergvliet, Retreat and Kirstenhof, to bypass the Muizenberg Mountains and enter Muizenberg, where it meets the south-western terminus of the R310 route (Baden Powell Drive). The M4 continues southwards with the False Bay coast to its east for 6 kilometres (still named Main Road) to reach Fish Hoek, where it meets the M65 route at a roundabout.

The M4 continues following the coast southwards to reach Glencairn, where it meets the southern terminus of the M6 route (an alternative route from the Cape Town CBD). The M4 proceeds southwards for 18 kilometres, through Simon's Town, to reach its end at another junction with the M65 route in the Cape Peninsula, at the entrance of the Cape of Good Hope.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Western Cape Department: Transport and Public Works. 11 April 2021. provincialgovernment.co.za.
  2. Web site: Road Network Transport Networks & Infrastructure TCT. 11 April 2021. www.tct.gov.za.
  3. Web site: Department of Public Works. 11 April 2021. publicworks.gov.za.
  4. Web site: May 2012. RDDA SOUTH AFRICAN NUMBERED ROUTE DESCRIPTION AND DESTINATION ANALYSIS. 25 March 2021. NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT.
  5. Web site: 2018–2019. WCPP 2018/2019 Annual Report. 11 April 2021. Western Cape Department Of Transport and Public Works.