The Durban Outer Ring Road is a half ring road that circles the coastal city of Durban, South Africa. It is part of the N2 highway which links the North and South Coasts of KwaZulu-Natal. [1]
| Durban Ring Road | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 32 km (20 mi) |
| Existed | 2007–present |
| Major junctions | |
| Beltway around Durban | |
| North end |  M41 in uMhlanga |
 N3 in Durban | |
| South end |   R102 / M4 in Durban South |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Highway system | |
From north to south, the Outer Ring Road begins from the M41 Mount Edgecombe Interchange between Mount Edgecombe and uMhlanga as 3×3 wide freeway. In late 2013 construction began to upgrade the M41 and N2 interchange to a full flowing interchange from its prior diamond interchange shape and was completed and opened on the 30 October 2018. [2]
From the M41, the N2 then fans into a 4×4 wide freeway as it begins to circle the urban parts of Durban. The freeway passes M25 KwaMashu Highway, M45 Queen Nandi Road including a Petropoort (the only urban freeway petrol station in Durban) and continuing to the massive Umgeni Interchange. The interchange is a dual road interchange starting with M21 Inanda Road and linking to the M19 Umgeni Road.[ citation needed ]
In 2012, due to heavy congestions with the M19 Umgeni Road and the N2 SANRAL decided to upgrade the M19 interchange to a semi-free flowing interchange. The project was supposed to have reached completion in May 2014 but delays from local workers and striking has prolonged this, however it was completed and opened in October 2015. [3] Two huge viaduct bridges have been erected for free-flowing traffic for commuters travelling on the M19 West to reach the N2 North, and for the N2 North to reach the M19 West without stopping at signals.
The N2 continues south to reach the EB Cloete Interchange with the N3 highway coming from Johannesburg. Nicknamed "Spaghetti Junction", this is the only five-stack free-flowing interchange in South Africa.
Once passing the interchange with the N3, the N2 continues into the southern parts of Durban meeting the terminus of the freeway portion of the M7 at the Solomon Mahlangu Drive Interchange and continuing southwards passing the M1 Higginson Highway. The N2 then meets the R102 for the Umlazi off-ramp and would continue with an old Durban International Airport offramp, however in 2010 the airport was relocated to the north of Durban. The off-ramp still exists but there is no signage or destination route.
The Durban Outer Ring Road ends at the Reunion Interchange with the M4, which provides an alternative route to the bypass for commuters who wish to drive through the central parts of the city. The M4 begins in Ballito and passes in a southerly direction along the coast as a parallel alternative to the N2 cutting through the city centre and ending at the N2 at the defunct Durban International Airport. After the M4 the N2 heads towards Amanzimtoti, the highway changes back to 2×2 lanes and over-head urban signage ends as the freeway makes its way to the South Coast. [4]
The N3 is a national route in South Africa that connects Johannesburg and Durban, respectively South Africa's largest and third-largest cities. Johannesburg is the financial and commercial heartland of South Africa, while Durban is South Africa's key port and one of the busiest ports in the Southern Hemisphere and is also a holiday destination. Durban is the port through which Johannesburg imports and exports most of its goods. As a result, the N3 is a very busy highway and has a high volume of traffic.
The N1 is a national route in South Africa that runs from Cape Town through Bloemfontein, Johannesburg, Pretoria and Polokwane to Beit Bridge on the border with Zimbabwe. It forms the first section of the famed Cape to Cairo Road.
Westville is an area in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, and is just west and 10 km inland from the Durban CBD. It was formerly and independent municipality and became part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality in 2002.
Mount Edgecombe or Mt Edgecombe is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, situated just north of Durban, which forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan area. Much of the suburb is cordoned off as a gated settlement comprising resorts, golf courses and a retirement home. It was previously a sugar growing area. The population increased by 89% between 2001 and 2011 from 3,874 to 7,323. Its name is derived from Mount Edgcumbe House in Cornwall, England, the family seat of the Earls of Mount Edgcumbe.
eMdloti, alternatively rendered Umdloti and also known as Umdloti Beach, is a small resort village situated along the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, South Africa. It lies at the mouth of the Mdloti River approximately 24 km north-east of Durban and 11 km north-east of uMhlanga and now forms part of eThekwini, the Greater Durban Metropolitan Municipality.
Verulam is a town 24 kilometres north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, governing the Greater Durban metropolitan area.
Umlazi is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located south-west of Durban. Organisationally and administratively it forms part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and its South Municipal Planning Region.
The N2 is a national route in South Africa that runs from Cape Town through George, Gqeberha, East London, Mthatha, Port Shepstone and Durban to Ermelo. It is the main highway along the Indian Ocean coast of the country. Its current length of 2,255 kilometres (1,401 mi) makes it the longest numbered route in South Africa.
A directional interchange, colloquially known as a stack interchange, is a type of grade-separated junction between two controlled-access highways that allows for free-flowing movement to and from all directions of traffic. These interchanges eliminate the problems of weaving, have the highest vehicle capacity, and vehicles travel shorter distances when compared to different types of interchanges.
uMhlanga, alternatively rendered Umhlanga, is a residential, commercial and resort town north of Durban on the coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is part of the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, which was created in 2000 and includes the greater Durban area. The name means "place of reeds" in the Zulu language, and the correct pronunciation of "hl" in uMhlanga is similar to the Welsh "ll".
The M13 is a metropolitan route in the Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. For most of its route, it is a highway named King Cetshwayo Highway and it acts as an alternative route to the N3 highway for travel between the suburbs closer to the Durban CBD and the Outer West Suburbs (Assagay).
La Lucia is a wealthy suburb located in uMhlanga in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa and is situated approximately 14 kilometres north of the Durban CBD. It was named after Lucia Michel. She and her husband Albert Michel founded the sugar cane farm La Lucia.
The M4 is a north–south metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality and partially in the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, South Africa. It runs from the N2 at the defunct Durban International Airport to Ballito via the Durban Central Business District (CBD) and uMhlanga. The sections between the airport and the southern edge of the CBD, and between the northern edge of the CBD and the exit to uMhlanga are classified as freeway. On the section from the southern edge of the CBD to the Bram Fischer Street/Soldier's Way junction, the M4 is cosigned with the R102.
KwaDabeka is a township in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, located north-west of Durban and means "at the Dabeka location".
The M5 is a long metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. It starts in KwaMashu in the north-western townships of Durban. It passes through the townships of Newlands East, Newlands West, Ntuzuma and KwaDabeka. It then passes through the industrial town of New Germany and the leafy towns of Pinetown and Queensburgh before entering Durban and ending in the Umbilo industrial area.
The M19 is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa, connecting Pinetown to Springfield Park in Durban.
The M41 is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking uMhlanga to Mount Edgecombe and Phoenix, north of the city of Durban.
The M21 is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking Durban with Phoenix via Newlands West and KwaMashu.
Springfield Park, officially known as Umgeni Business Park is an industrial suburb of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa located north-east of the city centre.
The Mount Edgecombe Interchange, is a major freeway interchange located between Mount Edgecombe and uMhlanga in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is the junction between the N2 and M41 freeways and underwent a major upgrade to relieve the increasing traffic congestion in the area.
