R102 (South Africa)

Last updated

SA road R102.svg
Regional route R102
Location
Country South Africa
Highway system
SA road R101.svg R101 SA road R103.svg R103
R102 bridge over the Gamtoos River in the Kouga was built in 1895 South Africa-Eastern Cape-Gamtoos River02.jpg
R102 bridge over the Gamtoos River in the Kouga was built in 1895

The R102 is a Regional Route in South Africa. It is the route designation for all old sections of the N2, thus it is a discontinuous road that resumes in areas where a new N2 has been constructed. [2]

Contents

Route

Western Cape and Eastern Cape

In the Cape Town area, the R102 starts in the Central Business District as Strand Street and runs through Woodstock, Maitland, Goodwood and Parow before it reaches Bellville. From Bellville, it turns in a southeasterly direction and goes on the outskirts of the metropolitan area through Kuilsrivier, Eerste River and onwards to Somerset West where it merges with the existing N2.

At Mossel Bay it divides to the east again, passing through all the towns between there and George. Near Nature's Valley east of Plettenberg Bay it once again splits off, traversing the various Tsitsikamma gorges such as the Grootrivier Pass and the Bloukrans Pass (which is currently closed; was closed in 2007 due to flood damage [3] ) and then rejoining the N2 east of the Bloukrans Bridge. Farther east, in the Eastern Cape, it passes through the towns of Humansdorp and Jeffreys Bay, becoming the Van Stadens Pass and crossing the Gamtoos River and the Van Stadens River on its way to Gqeberha (previously Port Elizabeth), where it passes through the city centre before turning north and merging with the N2 at Coega.

At King William’s Town (7 km south-east of the town centre; at Zwelitsha), the R102 splits again for a short section, starting at a junction with the R346. It heads east-north-east through Phakamisa to Ilitha, where it turns eastwards just before a junction with the N2. It parallels the N2 east-south-east, through Berlin, passing a Walter Sisulu University campus, to form the northern border of the Mdantsane Township just outside East London. It then enters East London, passing through the suburbs to the north of the CBD before rejoining the N2 north-east of the city (near Gonubie).

KwaZulu-Natal

The R102 separates from the N2 in Port Shepstone and passes through the South Coast towns of Anerley, Melville, Umzumbe and Hibberdene, before heading inland and passing through the Mnamfu area. It then turns back towards the coast and passes through Pennington, Park Rynie and Scottburgh before entering the Ethekwini Metropolitan Municipality (Durban Metropole) at Umkomaas. The route then passes through Kingsburgh and Amanzimtoti and then passes through the industrial suburbs of Prospecton, Mobeni and Congella before entering Durban's Central Business District from the south and passing through it as the main road.

North of Durban, the route passes through Durban North and bypasses KwaMashu, Phoenix and Mount Edgecombe and passes through Verulam. It continues to bypass the King Shaka International Airport and passes through Tongaat (now oThongathi) before heading towards Stanger (now KwaDukuza). Between Tongaat and Stanger, the route passes through the small settlements of Umhlali and Shakaskraal. After Stanger, the route heads through Darnall, Mandini and Gingindlovu (now KwaGingindlovu), passes close to Mtunzini, before heading to Empangeni. About 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) north of Empangeni, the route merges with the N2.

New section

As of 2018, there are plans to realign the N2 national route from the city of Mthatha to the town of Port Shepstone, on a new route known as the Wild Coast Toll Route or Wild Coast Highway. The N2 will take over the entire section of the current R61 route between the two cities, and turning that route into two lanes in each direction, providing a shorter and faster route through the Wild Coast. [4]

So, as the N2 will be realigned, the old N2 route passing through KwaBhaca, Kokstad and Harding, just like most other old sections of the N2, may be designated as the R102 when the project is finished.

Related Research Articles

KwaDukuza, previously known as Stanger, is a city in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In 2006, the municipal name was changed to KwaDukuza, but the Zulu people in the area called it "Dukuza" well before then.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ballito</span> Place in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Ballito is an affluent coastal town located in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Ballito is about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 24 kilometres south of KwaDukuza. It forms part of the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, and iLembe District Municipality. Dolphins and Whales are common on this stretch of the North Coast shoreline, hence the nickname Dolphin Coast. The name of the town Ballito is named after the Italian word for "small ball".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Port Shepstone</span> Coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Port Shepstone is a large town situated on the mouth of the Mzimkhulu River, the largest river on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast of South Africa. It is located halfway between Hibberdene and Margate and is positioned 120 km south of Durban. It serves as the administrative, educational, industrial and commercial centre for southern Natal.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">R334 (South Africa)</span> Road in Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa

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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.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">South Coast (KwaZulu-Natal)</span> Coastal region in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Coast (KwaZulu-Natal)</span> Coastal region in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The KwaZulu-Natal North Coast, better known as the North Coast is a coastal region north of Durban in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It stretches from Zinkwazi Beach in the north to Zimbali near Ballito in the south. The coastal region is governed by the KwaDukuza Local Municipality, forming part of the iLembe District Municipality.

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The M45 also named Queen Nandi Drive is a short metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa. The road connects Briardene in Durban North to KwaMashu.

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References

  1. Sellick, W.S.J. (1904). Uitenhage, past and present : souvenir of the Centenary, 1804-1904. pp.  186, 187.
  2. "RDDA SOUTH AFRICAN NUMBERED ROUTE DESCRIPTION AND DESTINATION ANALYSIS". NATIONAL DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT. May 2012. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  3. Rautenbach, Anje. "#4x4Adventure: What happened to the Bloukrans Pass? | News24". News24. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
  4. "Wild Coast Road project takes in highest bridge in Africa". The South African. 5 September 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.