What Are National Roads?
National routes in South Africa are a class of trunk roads and freeways that connect major cities. They form the highest category in the South African route numbering scheme and are designated with route numbers beginning with “N”, from N1 to N18.
National routes in South Africa are a class of trunk roads and freeways that connect major cities. They form the highest category in the South African route numbering scheme and are designated with route numbers beginning with “N”, from N1 to N18. Most segments of the national route network are officially proclaimed National Roads that are maintained by the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL), but some segments are maintained by provincial or local road authorities.
South Africa has a road network of 750 000 km, the tenth longest network in the world. SANRAL is currently managing about 21,403 km, of which 84 percent are non-tolled and only 16 percent are tolled. Provinces manage about 47,348 km whereas 51,682 km is managed by municipalities.
How Many National Roads In South Africa?
In the nationwide numbering scheme, routes are divided into a hierarchy of three categories: national routes, which are the most important routes connecting major cities; provincial routes, which connect smaller cities and towns to the national route network; and regional routes, which connect smaller towns to the route network. Route numbers are allocated to these classes as follows:
- National routes – N1 to N21
- Provincial routes – R21 to R99
- Regional parallel routes – R101 to R120 (A Regional parallel route will consist of road segments formerly part of the national route R1xy. Nxy that have been replaced by upgraded roads)
- Regional routes in the former Cape Province: R300 to R499.
- Regional routes in the former Transvaal Province: R500 to R599
- Regional routes in KwaZulu-Natal: R600 to R699
- Regional routes in the Free State: R700 to R799
These numbers are allocated by the Route Numbering and Road Traffic Signs Sub Committee within the Roads Co-ordinating Body, an organization that contains representatives from road authorities in national, provincial, and local governments.
Who Owns National Roads In South Africa?
The South African government
The South African government, represented by the Minister of Transport, is the sole shareholder and owner of SANRAL. SANRAL operates in terms of its founding legislation, The South African National Roads Agency Limited and National Roads Act (Act No. 7,1998).