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N12 Southern Bypass (Johannesburg)

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National route N12 shield
National route N12
Route information
Length20.4 km (12.7 mi)
Existed1986–present
Major junctions
West end N1 Diepkloof Interchange
Major intersections 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
CountrySouth 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 freeway eastbound near 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

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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

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  1. ^ "Roads". www.joburg.org.za. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  2. ^ Vivier, Tyler Leigh (10 July 2020). "The Johannesburg ring road was seen from space and its stunning!". Good Things Guy. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  3. ^ "Explore SA's best roads: Jozi's Ring Road beltway". www.iol.co.za. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  4. ^ Mitchell, M. F.; Lucykx, L. M. G. P.; Stanway, R. A. (1 January 1990), "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 17 April 2021
  5. ^ "E-tolls going live in Gauteng". fin24.com. 20 November 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2014.
  6. ^ South African Government ends e-tolls in Gauteng press release published 28th of March 2024, retrieved and archived 5th of April 2024 [1]
  7. ^ Njilo, Nonkululeko (10 April 2024). "Gauteng set to finally end e-tolls, overdue fees remain". Daily Maverick. Retrieved 12 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Johannesburg Roads Agency - Company documents". www.jra.org.za. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  9. ^ "Johannesburg Road Agency Q2 2021 Report" (PDF). Johannesburg Road Agency Website. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
  10. ^ "RDDA SOUTH AFRICAN NUMBERED ROUTE DESCRIPTION AND DESTINATION ANALYSIS". NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2021.