Metropolitan Routes in East London
Buffalo City, like most South African cities, uses Metropolitan or "M" routes for important intra-city routes, a layer below National roads and Regional roads. Each city's M roads are independently numbered.
These roads naturally interact with East London 's N and R roads. The N2 is a highway that runs from east to west through the town on its northern perimeter. It is South Africa's coastal highway linking East London to Port Elizabeth and Durban. It intersects with the N6 coming from Bloemfontein to the north. This road changes name to the R72 and becomes a highway leading to East London's city centre, after which it veers east/west and becomes the alternative coastal road to Port Elizabeth . The R102 roughly parallels the N2, and is co-signed with the M5, M11 and M10. The R346 runs from King William's Town and ends at the R72 just east of the town.
Table of M roads
| No. | Direction | Description of Route | Suburbs | Street Names | - |
| M1 | North/South | R72 - M15 - M4 - M5/R102 - N2 - M11 | CBD, Arcadia, Southernwood, Selbourne, Vincent, Dorchester Heights | Oxford St., Union Ave., Western Ave., Two Rivers Dr. | - |
| M3 | SSE/NNW | R72 - M15 - M5 - M16 - R102 | CBD, Pefferville, Duncan Village, Gompo Town, Buffalo Flats, Haven Hills, Reeston, Mdantsane | Buffalo St., North West Expressway, Phoenix St., Ziphunzana Bypass, Mdantsane Access Rd. | - |
| M4 | East/West | M13 - M11 - R72 - M1 - M5 - N2 - R102 | Stirling, Baysville, Southernwood, Braelynn, Amalinda, Amalinda Forest, Summerpride | Gleneagles Rd., Pearce St., Lukin Rd., Union Ave., Amalinda Dr., Main Road Amalinda | - |
| M5 | NNE/SSW | Cosigned with R102 - M4 - M3 - leaves town as the Buffalo Pass - R346 | Deveraux Ave., Garcia St., Croydon Rd., French St., Windermere Rd., Main Road Amalinda, Woolwash Rd., Buffalo Pass | - | |
| M7 | NE/SW | M11 - M9 - M8 | Bonnie Doon, Beacon Bay | Batting Rd. | - |
| M8 | SE/NW | - N2 - M7 - M9 - Bonza Bay Beach | Nonpumolelo, Beacon Bay | Bonza Bay Rd. | - |
| M9 | First East/West then North/South | M7 - M8 | Beacon Bay | Beaconhurst Dr. | - |
| M10 | East/West | - N2 - Gonubie Beach | Gonubie | Main Rd. | - |
| M11 | North/South | M4 - R102 - M12 - M7 - under N2 - R102 - M1 | Stirling, Nahoon, Bonnie Doon, Abbotsford, Nahoon Valley Park, Dorchester Heights | Old Transkei Rd., Main Rd., Smythelands Rd. | - |
| M12 | East West | M11 - M13 - Nahoon Beach | Nahoon | Beach Rd. | - |
| M13 | North/South, U-bend, SSW/NNE | R72 - M4 - M12 | Quigney, Baysville, Stirling, Nahoon | Currie St., Esplanade Rd., John Bailie Rd., Galway Rd. | - |
| M14 | North/ South then East/West | R72 - R72 | CBD, Arcadia | Cambridge St., Stephenson/North Sts., Commercial Rd. | - |
| M15 | East/West | M3 - R72 | CBD, Southernwood | St. Johns Rd., St. Peters St. | - |
| M16 | North/South | R102 - M3 | Mdantsane | Billie Rd. | - |
| M17 | Mdantsane | ||||
| M18 | East/West | R72 - R72 | CBD, West Bank, Cove Rock | Dr. Zahn Rd., Bank St., Strand St., Molteno Dr., Prince George Circuit, Parkridge Rd. | - |
| M19 | North/South | R72 - East London IDZ | Sunnyridge | Chester Rd. | - |
| M20 | North/South | off R72? | West Bank area? | - | |
| M21 | East/West | M3 - M3 | Pefferville, Duncan Village, Gompo Town | Douglas Smit Highway | - |
| M25 | North/South | R72 - Kidd's Beach | Kidd's Beach | Main St. | - |