N12 Southern Bypass (Johannesburg)
N12 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 20.4 km (12.7 mi) |
| Existed | 1986–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  N1 Diepkloof Interchange |
 M1 Uncle Charlies Interchange M17 Xavier Street, Ridgeway M7 Kliprivier Drive, Suideroord M11 Comaro Street, Oakdene R59 Reading Interchange, Alberton  R103 / M31 Voortrekker Road, Alberton N17 Elands Interchange, Germiston | |
| east end |  N3 Elands Interchange, Germiston |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Highway system | |
The N12 Southern Bypass is a section of the Johannesburg Ring Road that forms a beltway around the city of Johannesburg, South Africa, as part of the N12. The freeway was the last section of the Ring Road to be built, with the final section opening in 1986. As part of the old South African Freeways, It was initially called the N13.[1][2][3][4] The entire Southern Bypass freeway was an e-toll highway (with open road tolling) from 3 December 2013[5] to 11 April 2024.[6][7]
From the west, the Southern Bypass begins at the Diepkloof Interchange, where it splits from the N1 freeway. It ends at the Elands Interchange, where it merges with the N3 freeway to be cosigned with it on the N3 Eastern Bypass northwards. The exits include the M1 Uncle Charlie's Interchange (north eastbound only), M17 Xavier Street, M7 Kliprivier Drive, M11 Comaro Road, R59 Reading Interchange, and R103/M31 Voortrekker Road (Alberton).
The N12 Southern Bypass, which cuts a concrete swath through the rocky hills of southern Johannesburg, is apparently very reminiscent of the freeways of Los Angeles, and together with Johannesburg's sunshine, renders a real Southern California feel to that part of the city.
Background
As with the N1 Western Bypass, the freeway was built with concrete between Reading and Diepkloof and has always been three lanes wide in either direction, fanning out into four lanes at Reading. The freeway passes through a declared green belt area to the south of Johannesburg, which has prevented the construction of billboards along the roadside, a common practice in the city.[8][9][10]
References
- ^ "Roads". www.joburg.org.za. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ Vivier, Tyler Leigh (2020-07-10). "The Johannesburg ring road was seen from space and its stunning!". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ "Explore SA's best roads: Jozi's Ring Road beltway". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ Mitchell, M. F.; Lucykx, L. M. G. P.; Stanway, R. A. (1990-01-01), "The Johannesburg National Ring Road", Orbital motorways, Conference Proceedings, Thomas Telford Publishing, pp. 123–141, doi:10.1680/om.15913, ISBN 978-0-7277-4846-1, retrieved 2021-04-17
- ^ "E-tolls going live in Gauteng". fin24.com. November 20, 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
- ^ South African Government ends e-tolls in Gauteng press release published 28th of March 2024, retrieved and archived 5th of April 2024 [1]
- ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (2024-04-10). "Gauteng set to finally end e-tolls, overdue fees remain". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 2024-04-12.
- ^ "Johannesburg Roads Agency - Company documents". www.jra.org.za. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ "Johannesburg Road Agency Q2 2021 Report" (PDF). Johannesburg Road Agency Website. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
- ^ "RDDA SOUTH AFRICAN NUMBERED ROUTE DESCRIPTION AND DESTINATION ANALYSIS". NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2021.