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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]
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 November 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 and Ndevana 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 (meeting the N6) before rejoining the N2 north-east of the city (near Gonubie).
The R102 separates from the N2 in Port Shepstone on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, winding through a series of small coastal villages such as Umtentweni (now eMthenteni), Sea Park, Southport, Sunwich Port, Anerley, Melville, Pumula, and Umzumbe, eventually reaching the town of Hibberdene. From there, it reconnects briefly with the N2, heading inland through the Mnamfu area. The route then swings back towards the coast, passing through Pennington, Park Rynie, and Scottburgh before crossing the Mahlongwa River and entering the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality.
Continuing, it passes through Clansthal, Umkomaas (now eMkhomazi), Ilfracombe, and Umgababa, crossing the Msimbazi River into Kingsburgh at Illovo Beach. In Kingsburgh, it traverses Winklespruit, Warner Beach, and Doonside, then continues through Amanzimtoti (now eManzimtoti) and its northern suburb, Athlone Park. After crossing the uMbokodweni River, it enters the industrial area of Prospecton, slightly diverging from the coastline. The R102 crosses the N2 again, bypasses Isipingo and Reunion, and intersects with the M4 at the Reunion Interchange and the M30 near Umlazi.
The R102 continues over the Umlaas River and under the N2 again, entering Durban through the industrial areas of Mobeni and Rossburgh. It then passes through Umbilo, which has both residential and industrial sections, before reaching Congella (now KwaKhangela). From there, it enters Durban's Central Business District from the south, passing through it as the main road.
North of Durban, the route continues through Durban North, bypasses KwaMashu and runs between Phoenix and Mount Edgecombe before reaching Verulam. It continues to bypass the King Shaka International Airport to the west 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.
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. It was initially scheduled for completion in 2024 and the N2 will take over the entire section of the current R61 route between the two cities (with realignment between Lusikisiki and the Mtamvuna River crossing), 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 from Mthatha to Port Shepstone, passing through KwaBhaca, Kokstad and Harding, just like most other old sections of the N2, will be designated as the R102 when the project is finished. [5]
KwaDukuza, previously known as Stanger, is a town 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.
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.
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.
Hibberdene is a small coastal town on the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast in South Africa, approximately 23 km north-east of Port Shepstone and 90 km south-west of Durban and halfway between coastal towns of Scottburgh and Margate.
Kingsburgh is a coastal resort town along the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, approximately 32 kilometres south-west of Durban.
Umtentweni, also officially known as eMthenteni, is a small coastal resort on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, between the Mzimkulu River (the great home of all rivers) and the Mtentweni River. It forms part of the coastal town of Port Shepstone in the Ray Nkonyeni Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is a relatively clean and quiet residential resort; it has become an attractive destination for people aiming to get away from city life. Most of the village is filled with complexes, flats, bed and breakfasts and suburban-style houses. Twenty years ago the whole of Umtentweni consisted of a lot of greenery and wildlife. All this has changed due to the growing popularity of this small resort and the constant clearing for new housing.
Winklespruit is a small seaside resort on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa and now forms part of the coastal town of Kingsburgh and the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, the Greater Durban metropolitan area.
oThongathi, previously and still commonly known as Tongaat, is a town in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, about 40 kilometres (25 mi) north of Durban and 28 kilometres (17 mi) south of KwaDukuza. It now forms part of eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, or the Greater Durban area. The area is home to the oldest Indian community in South Africa, having been where the first indentured Indian laborers settled in 1860 to work in the sugar-cane plantations. Much of the architectural style in the town was the work of Ivan Mitford-Barberton, and many buildings are in the Cape Dutch style of architecture.
The R61 is a long provincial route in South Africa that connects Beaufort West with Port Shepstone via Graaff-Reinet, Komani, Mthatha and Port Edward.
The R66 is a provincial route in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that connects Gingindlovu with Pongola via Eshowe, Melmoth and Ulundi. It starts and ends at a junction with the N2.
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.
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.
Shakaskraal is a town in Ilembe District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. The town is dominated by local businesses and informal traders and main activities located in and nearby is sugar cane farming.
Marburg is a settlement in the Ugu District Municipality in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, situated approximately 112 kilometres south-west of the city of Durban. Marburg was a Norwegian settlement given the name Marburg for a nearby German mission. The Norwegian founders played a significant role in the development of Marburg and Port Shepstone, which it forms part of today. The British colonial government gave the settlers a free voyage to South Africa and also houses and 100 acres of land. Marburg was the only successful Scandinavian settlement in South Africa.
The R620 is a regional route in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa that connects the coastal towns of Southbroom and Port Shepstone via Ramsgate, Margate, Uvongo and Shelly Beach. It is often termed the ‘beach road’ of the Lower South Coast, considering that it mostly runs near the coastline.
The KwaZulu-Natal South Coast is a region along the southern stretch of coastline of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, south of the coastal city of Durban.
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.
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.
The M21 is a metropolitan route in the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality, South Africa linking Durban with Phoenix via Newlands West and KwaMashu.
