The motorway starts shortly after junction 7 of the M2 Northwards at the split in the carriageways on the M2 around 1 mile from junction 1 of the M22, where the M2 was to head north towards Ballymena. After meeting junction 1 – the site of the Junction One retail outlet – it continues west across Ferguson's Water, the Belfast-Derry railway line and Mill Burn as it bypasses the suburbs of Antrim to the north.
The motorway starts near junction 7 of the M2 Northwards at a split in the carriageways on the M2 about one mile from junction 1 of the M22, where the M2 was intended to go north towards Ballymena. After passing junction 1 – which is home to the Junction One retail outlet – it continues west across Ferguson's Water, the Belfast-Derry railway line and Mill Burn as it avoids the suburbs of Antrim to the north.