Field's Hill is a steep section of the M13 (King Cetshwayo Highway) located in the

eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality The eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality () is a metropolitan municipality (South Africa), metropolitan municipality, created in 2000, that includes the city of Durban and surrounding towns. eThekwini is one of the 11 Districts of South Africa, di ...

KwaZulu-Natal KwaZulu-Natal (, also referred to as KZN) is a Provinces of South Africa, province of South Africa that was created in 1994 when the government merged the Zulu people, Zulu bantustan of KwaZulu ("Place of the Zulu" in Zulu language, Zulu) and ...

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...

. It forms part of the alternative route connecting

Pinetown Pinetown is a city that forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, based just inland from Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The city is situated 16 km (10 mi) north-west of Durban and 64 km (40 mi) south-east of Pieterm ...

with the

Upper Highway Area The Upper Highway Area is a suburban region situated west of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The region forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and encompasses a collection of interconnected suburban communities stretching ...

and is noted for its steep gradient, challenging driving conditions, and its inclusion on the

Comrades Marathon The Comrades Marathon is an ultramarathon of approximately which is run annually in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa between the cities of Durban and Pietermaritzburg. It is the world's largest and oldest ultramarathon race. The dire ...

course.

Route description

Field's Hill constitutes an approximately 3‑km long ascent on the M13, which serves as a major commuter route between the

Durban Durban ( ; , from meaning "bay, lagoon") is the third-most populous city in South Africa, after Johannesburg and Cape Town, and the largest city in the Provinces of South Africa, province of KwaZulu-Natal. Situated on the east coast of South ...

city centre and the western suburbs. The section is characterized by a persistent gradient (approximately 1:15) and a series of tight curves, factors that contribute to its reputation as a challenging stretch for both passenger vehicles and heavy goods vehicles.

History and significance

Prior to the re-routing of the N3 through Mariannhill in the mid‑1980s, Field's Hill was part of the main arterial road used for travel between Durban and inland areas. Today, it remains a significant transport link for residents of

, Westville,

Kloof Kloof is a town that includes a smaller area called Everton, located approximately 26 km north-west of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Once an independent municipality, it now forms part of greater Durban area of the eThekwini M ...

, and

Gillitts Gillitts is a town in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Overview It is about inland from the Durban city centre at an elevation of 1800 feet (600 m ASL). Although Durban is semi-tropical and very humid, Gillitts is above the humidity ...

. In addition to its role in everyday traffic, Field's Hill is a notable feature of the annual

, where its steep descent is regarded as one of the most challenging sections of the race.

Accident record

The steep gradient and variable weather conditions have contributed to a history of serious traffic accidents on Field's Hill. One of the most significant incidents occurred in September 2013, when a truck lost control on the descent, resulting in multiple fatalities and injuries. Subsequent accidents have underscored the risks associated with this section of the highway. Heavy motor vehicle operators are accused of using Field's Hill to avoid paying the toll fee on the

Mariannhill Toll Road The Mariannhill Toll Road is a toll road in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, forming part of the N3 national route. Opened on March 7, 1986, it was the second modern toll road project undertaken in South A ...

, part of that national route N3 to and from

Johannesburg Johannesburg ( , , ; Zulu language, Zulu and Xhosa language, Xhosa: eGoli ) (colloquially known as Jozi, Joburg, Jo'burg or "The City of Gold") is the most populous city in South Africa. With 5,538,596 people in the City of Johannesburg alon ...

. In response, the KwaZulu-Natal government placed restrictions on the times at which heavy vehicles are allowed to use the Field's Hill route.

Etymology

Field's Hill was named after John Coote Field, an early settler in the area. The Field family played a significant role in the development of the region, with their farm, Richmond, established in 1851.

References

{{Reflist Roads in South Africa Transport in Durban

Route description

History and significance

Accident record

Etymology

See also

References