National Roads in South Africa

The National Road System is a network of highways that links all the major population centers in South Africa. The system was mostly built by the Apartheid government during the 1970s, 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.

Currently proclaimed roads

National Roads are designated with the letter N followed by a number indicating the specific route. On signs national roads 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, 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: Johannesburg — Durban: via Pietermaritzburg and Harrismith.
* N4: Lebombo — Skilpadshek (the border posts to Mozambique and Botswana, respectively): via Nelspruit, Witbank, Pretoria and Rustenburg.
* N5: Winburg — Harrismith: via Bethlehem.
* N6: East London — Bloemfontein: via Queenstown and Aliwal North.
* N7: Cape Town — Vioolsdrif (border post to Namibia, becomes B1 to Windhoek): via Malmesbury and Springbok.
* N8: Upington — Maseru Bridge (border post to Lesotho): via Kimberley, Bloemfontein and Ladybrand.
* N9: George — Colesberg: via Graaf-Reinet and Middelburg.
* N10: Port Elizabeth — Nakop (border post to Namibia, becomes B3): via Cradock, 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, Christiana, Klerksdorp and Potchefstroom.
* N14: Springbok, — Pretoria: via Upington, Kuruman, Vryburg, Krugersdorp and Centurion, Gauteng.
* N15: Worcester — Swellendam: via Robertson.
* N17: Alberton — Oshoek (border post to Swaziland, becomes M3): via Springs, Bethal and Ermelo.
* N18: Warrenton — Ramatlabama (border post to Botswana): via Vryburg and Mafikeng.

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.

Regional roads

* R62: Ashton — Humansdorp (touted as the longest wine route in the world, and runs through Oudtshoorn, parallel to the N2 but inland, along a two-lane road to Ladismith, Robertson, Barrydale, then up to Worcester, crosses the N1, to Tulbagh. It is being promoted as a tourist route.)

See also

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

External links

* [http://www.nra.co.za/ The National Roads Agency]
* [http://www.peninsula-expressway.org.za/ The Peninsula Expressway]