National Routes (South Africa)

Map of National Routes.

In South Africa, national routes constitute a numbered network of roads starting with an "N" prefix ^[1][2]. They usually connect major centres. Although the terms National Road and National Route are often used interchangably in everyday conversation, the two are not synonymous, and some Regional Routes (R routes) are actually proclaimed National Roads, while some sections of "N" routes are not proclaimed.^[3]

The system was mostly built during the 1970s by the National Party government of South Africa, although construction of new roads and repairs of existing stretches continue today. The system was modeled on the United States Interstate Highway network, an idea first brought into effect by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the 1950s, based on the German Autobahn, which he experienced when touring Germany after the Second World War.

Definition of a National Route

The physical scope of an instance of the abstract concept National Route may include many different stretches of paved road comprising more a total route than any single road.

Current national routes

National Routes are denoted with the letter N followed by a number indicating the specific route. On maps and some signage, national routes are shown by a pentagon with the number of the road inside.

• N1: Cape Town – Beit Bridge (the border post to Zimbabwe, becomes the A4/A6)

via Laingsburg, Beaufort West, Colesberg, Bloemfontein, Winburg, Kroonstad, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Polokwane and Musina.

• N2: Cape Town – Ermelo

via the Garden Route, Port Elizabeth, Grahamstown, Bisho, East London, Mthatha, Kokstad, Port Shepstone, Durban, Empangeni, Pongola and Piet Retief.

• N3: Durban – Johannesburg

via Pietermaritzburg, Estcourt and Harrismith.

• N4: Lobatse – Ressano Garcia (the border posts to Botswana and Mozambique, becomes the A2 and the EN4, respectively)

via Rustenburg, Pretoria, Witbank and Nelspruit.

• N5: Winburg – Harrismith

via Bethlehem.

• N6: East London – Bloemfontein

via Queenstown and Aliwal North.

• N7: Cape Town – Vioolsdrif (border post to Namibia, becomes the B1)

via Malmesbury and Springbok.

• N8: Groblershoop – Maseru Bridge (border post to Lesotho)^[4]

via Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Ladybrand.

• N9: George – Colesberg

via Graaf-Reinet and Middelburg.

• N10: Port Elizabeth – Nakop (border post to Namibia, becomes the B3)

via Cradock, Eastern Cape, Middelburg, De Aar, Prieska and Upington.

• N11: Ladysmith – Grobler's Bridge (border post to Botswana)

via Newcastle, Volksrust, Ermelo, Middelburg and Polokwane.

• N12: George – Witbank

via Oudtshoorn, Beaufort West, Kimberley, Warrenton, Klerksdorp, Potchefstroom and Johannesburg (Between Beaufort West and Three Sisters it is merged with the N1.)

• N14: Springbok, – Pretoria

via Upington, Kuruman, Vryburg, Krugersdorp and Centurion, Gauteng.

• N17: Johannesburg – Ngwenya (border post to Swaziland, becomes the MR3)

via Springs, Bethal and Ermelo.

• N18: Warrenton – Ramatlabama (border post to Botswana, becomes the A1 highway)

via Vryburg and Mafikeng.

Maintenence, Ownership and Law Enforcement

The roads that form National Routes may be owned and maintained by various authorities. The National Roads Agency (SANRAL) maintains and owns the portions that are proclaimed National Roads, while other sections are maintained by various provincial and local authorities. An example of this are the portions of the N1 and N2 close to Cape Town, which are maintained and owned by the City of Cape Town and Provincial Government of the Western Cape.^[5] Similarly, portions of the N3 close to Durban, are owned and maintained by the eThekwini Metropolitan Muncipality,^[6][7] and part of the N14 in Gauteng is owned and maintained by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.^[8]

Proposed routes

• N21 / Peninsula Expressway: A proposed ring road that will involve upgrading the R300 running parallel to the N7 through Bellville into a toll road connecting the West Coast to Muizenberg. See Peninsula Expressway, Cape Town.

See also

• Johannesburg Freeways
• Durban Transportation
• Trans-African Highway network

References

1. ^ routes.co.za - N-routes
2. ^ SANRAL: Road Conditions
3. ^ nra.co.za - Declaration
4. ^ "Road Conditions: October 2011". SANRAL. October 2011. pp. 18–19. http://www.nra.co.za/content/RoadConditionsReport_October_2011.pdf. Retrieved 25 October 2011. 
5. ^ Cape Argus - Flyover to open two years later
6. ^ durban.gov.za - West Freeway
7. ^ durban.gov.za - Western Freeway upgrade
8. ^ The Mobilitate Witness - R70 million to repair N14 sinkhole

External links

• The National Roads Agency
• The Peninsula Expressway