N2 (South Africa)

National route N2 shield
National route N2
Route information
Maintained by SANRAL, City of Cape Town Metropolitan Municipality[1]
Length2,255 km (1,401 mi)
Major junctions
West end M62 in Cape Town
Major intersections
East end N11 / N17 in Ermelo
Location
CountrySouth Africa
Provinces
Major cities
Highway system
← N1→ N3

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.[2] 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.[3]

Prior to 1970, the N2 designation only applied to the route from Cape Town to Durban.[4]

There are plans to realign the N2 national route from Port Shepstone to Mthatha along a shorter stretch of road that passes through Port Edward, Lusikisiki and Port St. Johns.[5][6][7]

The project was initially scheduled for completion in 2024 and is expected to reduce the length of the route by 85 kilometres (53 mi).[8][9] Combined with the existing N2 route from Mthatha to East London, the realigned route will form the Wild Coast Toll Route.[5][6][7][10]

Route

Map
N2

Western Cape

Cape Metropole

The N2, which is also known at this point as the Nelson Mandela Boulevard, as it enters the City Bowl of Cape Town.

The N2 begins in central Cape Town at the northern end of Buitengracht Street (M62), outside the entrance to the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront. The first section of the N2 is shared with the beginning of the N1; it is a four-lane elevated freeway that runs along a strip of land between the city centre and the Port of Cape Town. On the eastern edge of the city centre the two roads split, and the N2 turns south as Nelson Mandela Boulevard (formerly Eastern Boulevard), crossing above the yards and approach tracks of Cape Town railway station.

Leaving the Central Business District (CBD), the N2 descends to ground level after the R102 Christiaan Barnard on-ramp in Woodstock. Continuing roughly east-southeast, the N2 intersects a few roads in the Woodstock area, most notably Roodebloem Road, which provides access to the M4 Main Road and University Estate, located on the north-western slopes of Devil's Peak.[11]

After leaving the Woodstock area, the N2 meets the M3 Phillip Kgosana Drive, from the southern City Bowl. Atop Mowbray Ridge in Observatory, these two roads merge into a massive 9-lane highway and bend around the University of Cape Town Medical Campus and Groote Schuur Hospital before splitting at the bottom of the ridge, with the M3 running toward the University of Cape Town and the Southern Suburbs. This intersection, called Hospital Bend, was the scene of frequent bottlenecks and accidents due to the lack of pre-selection lanes. However, this stretch of road has been extensively upgraded and made safer.[11]

After Hospital Bend, the N2 heads east as Settler's Way and forms the border between Observatory and Mowbray, intersecting the M4 Main Road (westbound only), M57 Liesbeek Parkway, M5 Black River Highway, and Raapenberg Road. After leaving the Southern Suburbs, the N2 travels across the Cape Flats as a six-lane freeway towards Somerset West. It travels just past the southern end of the main runway at Cape Town International Airport and crosses the M7 and R300 highways (both of which link the N2 with Mitchells Plain in the south and Bellville and Brackenfell in the north).

After the R300, the N2 becomes a four-lane freeway, passing nearby Khayelitsha and Macassar. It enters the Helderberg region where it passes through Somerset West and ceases to be a freeway after the R44 intersection, which links the N2 with Stellenbosch and the Winelands in the north. Here it passes through several intersections with traffic lights, which cause frequent congestion. After Somerset West, it bypasses Strand, Gordon's Bay, and Sir Lowry's Pass Village.

Overberg

After Sir Lowry's Pass Village, the N2 climbs Sir Lowry's Pass to enter the Overberg region. It passes near the town of Grabouw on the Hottentots-Holland plateau before descending the Houwhoek Pass to Botrivier. It then passes across the agricultural plains through the towns of Caledon, Riviersonderend, Swellendam and Riversdale to re-approach the coast at Mossel Bay, which marks the beginning of the Garden Route.

Garden Route

Just west of Mossel Bay, the N2 again becomes a divided freeway, and remains one as far as the intersection with the N9/N12 just outside George. From there, it travels across Kaaiman's Pass to Wilderness and on to Knysna and Plettenberg Bay.

After Plettenberg Bay, a section of the road is tolled as the Tsitsikamma Toll Route, primarily because of the Bloukrans Bridge (crossing the Bloukrans River). An alternative route (part of the R102) used to run through Nature's Valley but this was closed in November 2007 after flood damage.[12] The Bloukrans Bridge marks the border with the Eastern Cape.

N2 Freeway between George and Mossel Bay

Eastern Cape

Sunshine Coast Road

After crossing the Bloukrans Bridge, the N2 becomes the Sunshine Coast Road, passing through the Southern edge of the Tsitsikamma Nature Reserve, and regains freeway status between Nompumelelo and Witsiebos.

It runs eastward as a two-lane single carriageway highway, bypassing the resort towns of Jeffreys Bay and St. Francis Bay, as well as the town of Humansdorp. It becomes a four-lane dual carriageway freeway at the Van Stadens Bridge, which marks its entrance into the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality.[13] It proceeds eastwards to the city of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth).

Nelson Mandela Bay

After the Van Stadens Bridge, the N2 meets the R102, which provides access to KwaNobuhle and Kariega (formerly Uitenhage) via the R334. It then enters Gqeberha as a four-lane dual carriageway freeway. It runs eastward past the suburbs of Kabega Park and Tulbargh before making a north-easterly turn just after the R102 Kragga Kamma Road/Cape Road intersection in More Grove.

It then bypasses the suburbs of Newton Park and Korsten before meeting the R75 at the Commercial Road Intersection, with the R75 linking to the Gqeberha city centre in the south and to Kariega and Graaff-Reinet in the north.

It then passes through northern Sidwell, intersecting the M8 Kempston Drive (which links with the New Brighton and KwaZakhele suburbs in the north), and the M4 Settlers Way Highway (which links the N2 with the CBD and Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport in the south and the industrial areas of Deal Party in the north).

The N2 then leaves the city of Gqeberha running northwards towards Colchester, adjacent to the Indian Ocean, first passing across the estuarine area of the Swartkops River before passing through Bluewater Bay. After Bluewater Bay, it meets the R335 (which provides access to Motherwell) and bypasses the Coega Special Economic Zone (SEZ), with a major intersection with Neptune Road linking the harbour with the N2. It loses freeway status after the R334 Addo South Gate intersection, and becomes a two-lane single-carriageway highway after passing through Colchester.

Colchester - Qonce

After Colchester, the N2 leaves the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality and turns north-eastwards, meeting the southern terminus of the N10 (which heads northwards towards Middelburg) and the western terminus of the R72 (an alternative route to East London) before moving away from the coast towards Makhanda.

After passing around Grahamstown (also known as Makhanda) on a bypass, the N2 passes through the former Ciskei, including Peddie, to enter the Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality.

Buffalo City (Qonce- East London)

At Qonce (King William's Town) in Buffalo City, it meets the R63 and after several traffic-light intersections, the N2 turns east-south-east towards the coast, meeting it at East London.

The N2 becomes a four-lane dual carriageway road after leaving Qonce, and regains freeway status at the La Rochelle Street intersection in Berlin, just outside East London. It runs past Fort Jackson and the Mdantsane township. It then enters the city of East London as it passes to the north of Amalinda. After the M4 Amalinda Main Road intersection, it runs north of Vincent, intersecting the M1 Western Avenue (which links the CBD to the outlying rural areas situated along the Nahoon River). It then descends into the Nahoon River Valley, meeting the southern terminus of the N6 and the eastern terminus of the R72 after just crossing the Nahoon River.

The N2 then passes through Beacon Bay, partially intersecting the M8 Beacon Bay Road, and exits the city of East London before bypassing Gonubie to the north of the city. The N2 then becomes a two-lane single-carriageway highway after the R102/M10 Main Road intersection (Gonubie Interchange), which is also the proposed start of the Wild Coast Toll Road.[14] It then continues as a freeway until shortly after the R102 Brakfontein intersection, after which it leaves the Buffalo City Metro.

Former Transkei

After East London, the N2 turns again towards the interior in a northeasterly direction to avoid the difficult terrain of the Wild Coast. It passes through the former Transkei and its former capital, Mthatha, where it meets the R61 route (an alternative route to Port Shepstone). There are plans for the N2 to run as a four-lane dual carriageway highway from Viedgesville to the Ngqeleni Village turn off, bypassing Mthatha to the south, and then continuing eastwards on the R61, as part of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Road.[15] After passing Mthatha, the N2 continues north-east through the towns of Qumbu, Mount Frere (KwaBhaca) and Mount Ayliff. Near Kokstad, the N2 climbs Brook's Nek to enter the province of KwaZulu-Natal.[16]

KwaZulu-Natal

Brooks Nek - Port Shepstone

The N2 enters KwaZulu-Natal atop Brooks Nek, after which it bypasses Kokstad to the south and meets the R56 from Matatiele. The N2 and the R56 are co-signed for 43 kilometres (27 mi) eastwards until which the R56 splits from the N2 at Stafford's Post. The N2 then runs east-south-east past the rural towns of Harding and Izingolweni (eZinqoleni), to enter Port Shepstone from the west through its suburb of Marburg, meeting the eastern terminus of the R61 highway (an alternative route from Mthatha) at the Oribi Toll Plaza (Marburg Interchange). This interchange with the R61 is to be the eastern end of the N2 Wild Coast Toll Route from East London via Mthatha and Port Edward.

Port Shepstone - Durban (South Coast Highway)

The N2 then turns to the north at the Oribi Toll Plaza to become the South Coast Highway (taking over from the R61), first running as a dual carriageway freeway for 4 km (2.5 mi), then losing dual carriageway status after the Umtentweni off-ramp (where it ceases to be a toll road), before regaining dual carriageway status just after Hibberdene. It passes through the rural areas of Southern KwaZulu-Natal, with the rural towns of Mthwalume, Umzinto and Dududu, and the resort towns of Pennington, Park Rynie and Scottburgh lying to the west and east of the N2, respectively.

eThekwini Metropolitan Area (Durban)

The Umgeni Interchange
The Mount Edgecombe Interchange

The N2 enters the eThekwini Metropolitan Area 60 km (37 mi) south of Durban as a dual carriageway freeway just north of Scottburgh. It runs past the towns of Umkomaas (eMkhomazi) and Umgababa, before entering the built-up urban area of eThekwini at Kingsburgh and Amanzimtoti. It runs past Isipingo and the old Durban International Airport, before meeting the southern terminus of the M4 freeway at Umlazi; with the M4 providing access to the Durban CBD.

After the M4 interchange, the N2 runs as an eight-lane dual carriageway freeway around the city of Durban known as the Outer Ring Road, bypassing the suburbs of Mobeni, Chatsworth, Sarnia, Ridgeview and Chesterville, with the M1 Higginson Highway intersection and the M7 Solomon Mahlangu Drive interchange providing access to these suburbs as well as the town of Queensburgh.

After leaving Chesterville, the N2 meets the N3 highway at the EB Cloete Interchange (locally known as Spaghetti Junction) at Westville. It then passes through the suburbs of Clare Hills and Reservoir Hills, meeting the M19 Umgeni Drive at a large intersection just outside of Reservoir Hills.

It then continues northwards past Parlock, Riverhorse Valley, Briardene and Sea Cow Lake, with the M43 Queen Nandi Drive and the R102 KwaMashu Highway providing access to these places, thereafter exiting the city of Durban and continuing towards Mount Edgecombe and uMhlanga, meeting the M41 at the Mount Edgecombe Interchange where the Durban Outer Ring Road ends.

It then runs to the east of Verulam and to the west of eMdloti (formerly Umdloti), passing by the King Shaka International Airport in La Mercy (where the M65 provides access). The airport off-ramp marks the beginning of the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast Toll Road. After the airport, it is tolled at oThongathi (formerly Tongaat) before leaving eThekwini.

North Coast Highway

After eThekwini, the N2 runs toward Mtunzini, passing through Ballito before being tolled again at the Mvoti Toll Plaza before KwaDukuza (formerly Stanger). It meets the R74 near KwaDukuza. It then continues as a four-lane single carriageway highway and passes through sugar cane plantations on the KwaZulu-Natal North Coast. It is tolled for the final time at Mtunzini and meets the R34, which provides access to Richards Bay to the east and Empangeni and Ulundi to the west.

Just after the R34 off-ramp, the N2 ceases to be a dual carriageway and turns north, moving away from the coast into the heart of Zululand, where it bypasses Greater St Lucia Wetlands Park to the west (where the R618 provides access) and runs past the town of Mkuze before turning to the north-west and running close to the border of Eswatini, passing the town of Pongola.

Mpumalanga

After leaving Pongola, the N2 makes a direct line for Piet Retief (eMkhondo) and meets the R33 to be co-signed with it as the main road through the town centre before splitting 12 km north of the town. It then heads north-west to Ermelo, where it enters as Voortrekker Lane and terminates at a junction with the N11 (De Emigratie Street) in the town centre, just south of the N11's intersection with the N17.

The total length of the road is 2,255 kilometres (1,401 mi). Although the dual carriageway sections of the N2 are discontinuous, when combined — including segments such as Cape Town to Somerset West (44 km), George to Mossel Bay (51 km), Gqeberha (70 km), East London (43 km), Port Shepstone (7 km), Hibberdene to KwaDukuza (165 km), and Mtunzini Toll Plaza to Richards Bay (35 km) — the N2 technically has the longest total length of dual carriageway among South African national roads.[3]

Junctions

Western Cape

Municipality Location km mi Exit Destinations Notes
Cape Town Cape Town CBD 0 0 — M62 Buitengracht Street, Walter Sisulu Avenue At-grade intersection
0 0 — CTICC P1 Parking No westbound entrance
0 0 — N1 F W de Klerk Boulevard, Paarl, Bellville, Milnerton Eastbound exit only; Eastern end of concurrency with N1
0 0 1B M60 Christiaan Barnard Street, Cape Town CBD Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
0 0 1A R102 Strand Street, Cape Town CBD Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
Zonnebloem 0 0 2 Searle Street
Woodstock 0 0 3 Melbourne Road, Walmer Estate
0 0 4 Roodebloem Road, University Estate
Observatory 0 0 5 Browning Road, Groote Schuur Hospital Eastbound exit only
0 0 5 M3 Philip Kgosana Drive west, Cape Town CBD, Table Mountain Westbound exit and entrance; Western end of concurrency with M3
0 0 6 M3 Rhodes Drive south, Muizenberg, Kirstenbosch Eastern end of concurrency with M3
0 0 7 M4 Main Road, Observatory Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
Mowbray 0 0 8 M57 Liesbeek Parkway, Mowbray
0 0 9A M5 Black River Parkway north, Maitland Signed as exit 9 westbound
0 0 9B M5 Kromboom Parkway south, Muizenberg Eastbound exit only
0 0 10A M52 Raapenberg Road west, Mowbray Westbound exit only
0 0 10B M52 Raapenberg Road east, Pinelands Signed as exit 10 eastbound
Athlone 0 0 11A M17 Jan Smuts Drive north, Pinelands Signed as exit 11B westbound
0 0 11B M17 Jan Smuts Drive south, Athlone Signed as exit 11A eastbound
Langa 0 0 12 Bhunga Avenue, Langa
Bonteheuwel 0 0 14 M7 Jakes Gerwel Drive, Bonteheuwel
Heideveld 0 0 15 M10 Duinefontein Road, Robert Sobukwe Road, Heideveld
Matroosfontein 0 0 16 Airport Approach Road, Cape Town International
Nyanga 0 0 18 M22 Borcherds Quarry Road, Nyanga
Delft 0 0 22A R300 Kuils River Road north, Bellville Signed as exit 22 westbound
0 0 22B R300 Kuils River Road south, Mitchells Plain
Khayelitsha 0 0 25 M44 Mew Way, Khayelitsha
Mfuleni 0 0 29 M32 Spine Road Extension, Blue Downs, Khayelitsha
Macassar 0 0 33 R310 Baden Powell Drive, Stellenbosch
Firgrove 0 0 38 M9 Macassar Road, Firgrove, Macassar
Somerset West 0 0 43 R44 Broadway Boulevard, Stellenbosch, Strand
0 0 — R102 Old Main Road At-grade intersection
0 0 — M149 Victoria Street At-grade intersection
Strand 0 0 — M153 Main Road
0 0 — M161 Broadlands Road At-grade intersection
Sir Lowry's Pass 0 0 — M165, M9 Sir Lowry's Pass Road At-grade intersection
Theewaterskloof Grabouw 0 0 — R321 Oudebrug Road east, Grabouw, Villiersdorp At-grade intersection
0 0 — R321 Oudebrug Road west, Grabouw, Villiersdorp At-grade intersection
Botrivier 0 0 90 R43 south, Kleinmond, Hermanus
0 0 92 R43 Hoof Way, Botrivier, Hermanus Western end of concurrency with R43
0 0 — R43 north, Villiersdorp At-grade intersection; eastern end of concurrency with R43
Caledon 0 0 — R406 east, Genadendal, Greyton At-grade intersection
0 0 — R316 Hoop Street, Caledon, Bredasdorp At-grade intersection
Riviersonderend 0 0 — R326, Rietpoel, Stanford At-grade intersection
0 0 — R406 west, Lindeshof, Greyton, Genaendal At-grade intersection
Swellendam Stormsvlei 0 0 — R317 south, Bredasdorp At-grade intersection; Western end of concurrency with R317
0 0 — R317 north, Stormsvlei, Bonnievale At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R317
Swellendam 0 0 — R319, Bredasdorp At-grade intersection
0 0 — R60, Swellendam, Robertson At-grade intersection
Buffeljagsrivier 0 0 — R324 north, Suurbraak, Barrydale At-grade intersection; Western end of concurrency with R324
0 0 — R324 south, Witsand At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R324
Hessequa Heidelberg 0 0 — R322 south, Witsand, Port Beaufort At-grade intersection; Western end of concurrency with R322
0 0 — R322 Van Riebeeck Street north, Barrydale At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R322
Riversdale 0 0 — R323 Heidelberg Road, Riversdale, Ladismith At-grade intersection
0 0 — R305, Stilbaai At-grade intersection
Mossel Bay Mossel Bay 0 0 — R327, Herbertsdale, Mossdustria At-grade intersection
0 0 387 R102 Louis Fourie Road, Mossel Bay
0 0 393 Aalwyn Way, R102 Louis Fourie Road, Mossel Bay, Hartenbos
Hartenbos 0 0 397 R102, Hartenbos, R328, Oudtshoorn
Little Brak River 0 0 401 R102, Little Brak River
Great Brak River 0 0 409 Lang Street, R102, Great Brak River
George Glentana 0 0 419 Morrison Road, Main Road, R102, Glentana
Herolds Bay 0 0 425 R404, George Airport, Herolds Bay
Pacaltsdorp 0 0 431 York Street, Pacaltsdorp
Thembalethu 0 0 434 Nelson Mandela Boulevard, Thembalethu, George Industria
George 0 0 437 N9, N12, George, Oudtshoorn
Knysna Knysna 0 0 — R339, Uniondale At-grade intersection
Bitou Plettenberg Bay 0 0 — R340, Wittedrif At-grade intersection
Kurland 0 0 — R102 east, Nature's Valley At-grade intersection
Nature's Valley 0 0 552 R102, Nature's Valley, Bloukrans Pass Tolled exit
0 0 SANRAL Tsitsikamma Toll Plaza; Bloukrans Bridge
N2 continues into Eastern Cape

Eastern Cape

Municipality Location km mi Exit Destinations Notes
Kou-Kamma Stormsrivier 0 0 — R102 west, Coldstream At-grade intersection
Tsitsikamma 0 0 — R102 east, Witelsbos, Koomansbos At-grade intersection
Kareedouw 0 0 611 R402, R102, Eerste Rivier, Kareedouw
Clarkson 0 0 632 R102, Clarkson, Palmietvlei
0 0 647 R62, R102, Kareedouw
Kouga Humansdorp 0 0 665 R330, Hankey, Humansdorp
Jeffreys Bay 0 0 676 St Francis Street, R102, Jeffreys Bay
0 0 689 R102, Jeffreys Bay, Mondplaas
Thornhill 0 0 702 R331, R102, Thornhill, Hankey
0 0 707 R102, Van Stadens Pass, Crossways
Nelson Mandela Bay Van Stadens Pass 0 0 713 R102, Van Stadens Pass, R334, Uitenhage
Gqeberha 0 0 724 St Albans Road, Blue Horizon Bay, St Albans
0 0 730 Seaview Road, M15 Kragga Kamma Road, Greenbushes, Sea View
0 0 736 Bay West Boulevard
0 0 740 M7 Samantha Way, Bramlin Street, Lorraine
0 0 742 R102 Cape Road, M15 Kragga Kamma Road R102 east eastbound only; R102 west and M15 west westbound only
0 0 743 M12 Disa Avenue, Chief Dawid Stuurman International
0 0 746 M10 Standford Road, Korsten, Bethelsdorp
0 0 748 R75 Commercial Road, Uitenhage, Ibhayi
0 0 750 M8 Kempston Road, New Brighton
0 0 751A M4 Burman Road north, Deal Party
0 0 751B M4 Settlers Way south, Gqeberha Central
0 0 754 M3 John Tallant Road, R102 Grahamstown Road, Swartkops
Bluewater Bay 0 0 758 M1 Weinronk Way, Bluewater Bay
Motherwell 0 0 761 R335 St George St, Motherwell, Markman
Coega 0 0 764 Neptune Road, Coega IDZ, Coega Business Centre, Port of Ngqura
0 0 770 R334 Daniel Pienaar Street, Coega IDZ, Uitenhage
Sundays River Valley Paterson 0 0 797 N10 north, Paterson, Cookhouse Eastbound exit, westbound entrance
0 0 798 R72, N10, Port Alfred, Paterson
0 0 — R342 north, Paterson At-grade intersection; Western end of concurrency with R342
0 0 — R342 south, Alexandria At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R342
Makana Makhanda 0 0 — R343, Alexandria, Kenton-on-Sea At-grade intersection
0 0 872 R67 George Street, Makhanda Business Centre, Port Alfred
0 0 — R67, Makhanda, Rini, Fort Beaufort At-grade intersection
Ngqushwa Peddie 0 0 — R345, Peddie, Hamburg At-grade intersection
Buffalo City Qonce 0 0 — R63 west, Dimbaza, Alice, Fort Beaufort At-grade traffic circle; Western end of concurrency with R63
0 0 — R346 north, Stutterheim, R63 east, Alice, Bhisho At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R63; Western end of concurrency with R346
0 0 — R346 south, Zwelitsha Eastern end of concurrency with R346
0 0 — Independence Street, Bhisho Westbound exit, eastbound entrance
0 0 — Welkom Street, Bhisho, Zwelitsha, Breidbach
Berlin 0 0 — R102, Zwelitsha, Berlin At-grade intersection
0 0 1012 Edgar Glass Street, R102, Berlin
Mdantsane 0 0 1025 M17, R102, Fort Jackson, Mdantsane
0 0 1034 M3, R102, Mdantsane, Nahoon Dam
East London 0 0 1042 M4 Main Road, R102, Amalinda
0 0 1047 M1 Western Avenue, Meadow Road, R102, East London
0 0 1049 N6, R72 North East Expressway, East London
0 0 1051 M8 Bonza Bay Road, Beacon Bay No eastbound entrance
0 0 1054 M10 Main Road, R102, Gonubie
0 0 1060 R102, Brakfontein
Great Kei Komga 0 0 — R349, Haga Haga, Kei Mouth At-grade intersection
0 0 — R63, Komga At-grade intersection
Mnquma Butterworth 0 0 1138 R409 north, Nqamakwe, Tsomo Western end of concurrency with R409
0 0 — R409 south, Centane At-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R409
Mbhashe Dutywa 0 0 — R408, Willowvale, Ngcobo At-grade intersection
King Sabata Dalindyebo Mthatha 0 0 1256 R411, Tabase, Mqanduli, Coffee Bay
0 0 — R61 General Sabelo Victor Gqwetha Street, Port St. Johns, Mthatha, Ngcobo At-grade intersection
Kumkani Mhlontlo Tsolo 0 0 — R396, Tsolo, Maclear At-grade intersection
Umzimvubu Mount Ayliff 0 0 — R394, Bizana, Port St. Johns At-grade intersection
N2 continues into KwaZulu-Natal

Toll Plazas

Toll plazas on the N2 include:[17]

Tsitsikamma Toll Route

South Coast Toll Route

North Coast Toll Route

Disruption to route

Heavy rains in 2006 triggered a mud-slide on the Kaaiman's pass section of the N2 between George and Wilderness. This caused the road to be temporarily closed from 26 August. As a result of the slide, a section of roadway sagged and large cracks appeared on the road surface. After an inspection by a team of engineers a single lane was reopened on 29 August for vehicles with a gross mass of under 5,000 kilograms (11,000 lb).

An alternative route following the Saasveld road was put into use, but this road only allows for a single lane of traffic and light vehicles. Heavy vehicles have to take an alternative route via the R62 and Langkloof pass effectively lengthening the distance from George to Wilderness from 11 to over 60 km (6.8 to 38 mi).[18] The road has since reopened.

Traffic on the N2 has also been disrupted on numerous occasions because of protests. On 10 September 2007, residents of Joe Slovo Informal Settlement blockaded the N2 Freeway in Cape Town near Langa. Police responded with rubber bullets, injuring over 30 residents.[19][20] On 4 December 2008, a few thousand residents of eMachambini, between KwaDukuza and Richards Bay in KwaZulu-Natal, blockaded the N2 Freeway in protest against the proposed AmaZulu World Themepark. Police opened fire and injured about 23 residents and arrested about 10.[21]

On 20 October 2012, a section of the N2 was closed after heavy rainfall caused a collapse about 20 km (12 mi) outside Grahamstown.[22]

On 5 November 2024 around 11h00, a section of the N2 was indefinitely closed due to a section of bridge partially collapsing on the southbound carriageway crossing the Embokodweni river next to the Amanzimtoti country club. One of the concrete bearings supporting the roadway failed, causing the surface of the southbound lanes to become uneven.

The road closure has caused severe traffic disruptions into Amanzimtoti, Prospecton, Isipingo and the surrounding areas. Motorists travelling on the N2 southbound were being diverted onto the R102 and M35. It is also suspected that previous damage from the 2022 KwaZulu-Natal floods went undetected according to local officials.[23][24][25][26][27]

Safety

Cape Town

The section of the N2 freeway (and its surrounds) that runs past Cape Town International Airport is notoriously dangerous. Over the years, there have been many incidents of objects being thrown at vehicles from the side of the road, robberies, and hijackings. Other illegal disruptions have included offramps being blockaded, spikes being placed on the road, and criminals posing as fellow road users to make up stories and distract innocent motorists.

The goal by criminals is usually to force vehicles to pull over to the side of the road, so that occupants can be robbed, and/or their vehicles can be stolen. Locals know to avoid the stretch of the N2 whenever possible, and use alternative routes. Tourists are advised to do the same.[28]

In December 2025, the City of Cape Town (metro government) announced plans to combat safety issues on the N2. Cape Town Mayor Geordin Hill-Lewis stated that the City would construct a new high-security wall between the highway and the surrounding areas, thereby making it much harder for criminals to attack road users before quickly disappearing into the surrounding townships.[29]

For years, the City maintained the N2 highway, which falls under the domain of the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) and the provincial government. SANRAL is formally responsible for maintaining national roads' footbridges, fences, and road mediums. However, more recently, it has stated that because of the violence, it has decided to intervene, regardless of whose mandate fixing the issue is.[29]

Mayor Hill-Lewis said that the existing security fence along the N2 was completely dilapidated, and that it wasn’t fair to the thousands of residents who use the N2 to have to deal with criminal elements on their commute. The Mayor further stated that he cares deeply about commuter safety, but also that the embankment along the N2 would be repaired as part of the project, to make it more dignified for the communities living along the highway.[30]

The project, which has a budget of R180 million, was reaffirmed by the City in January 2026.[29] Aside from a security barrier, the project will facilitate new pedestrian crossings, new lighting, embankment landscaping to help prevent fires and floods, and access control measures.[30]

The broader project will also include safety barriers for designated recreational areas in nearby communities, promoting safer grazing and urban agriculture practices, minimizing illegal dumping, and exploring other opportunities that will emerge from upcoming engagements with communities along the N2.[30]

N2 Wild Coast Toll Route (N2WCTR)

There are plans to realign the N2 national route from Port Shepstone to Mthatha, on a shorter stretch of road, and designate the entire stretch from Port Edward through Mthatha to East London as a toll road.[31][32][33] The project was started in September 2016.[34] It was initially scheduled for completion in 2024 and this new N2 route will take over the entire section of the current R61 route from Port Shepstone to Mthatha,[35] with realignment between Port Edward and Lusikisiki (providing a shorter stretch of road between the two towns).[35]

This new route, known as the Wild Coast Toll Route (N2WCTR), will extend from East London (Gonubie Interchange) to Port Edward (Mthamvuna River), a distance of 410 km.[36][10][8] There will be two new "greenfields" sections, one between Ndwalane (near Port St. Johns) and Lusikisiki, and the other between Lusikisiki and Port Edward. The latter greenfields section will provide a shorter and more direct route between Port Edward and Lusikisiki (via the Mtentu Bridge[37][38] and Msikaba Bridge[39][40]) while the current R61 passes through Flagstaff and Bizana on the route between the two towns.

The greenfields sections will include two new toll plazas, namely the Mthentu Toll Plaza between Lusikisiki and Port Edward, and the Ndwalane Toll Plaza just outside of Port St. Johns.[32][33] There were also initially plans to place two toll plazas on the stretch from East London to Mthatha: the Ngobozi Toll Plaza just north of the Great Kei Bridge and the Candu Toll Plaza just north-east of Idutywa.[41] Plans to toll this section between East London and Mthatha have been cancelled.[42]

In this project, there are plans to widen the N2 from Port St. Johns to East London to a four-lane undivided highway. The new greenfields section between Lusikisiki and Port Edward will also include a four-lane undivided highway, with a four-lane dual carriageway through Lusikisiki. Bypasses around the towns of Butterworth (Gcuwa), Idutywa and Mthatha are to be constructed after the completion of the new toll road. According to Traveller24, this new route will be around 85 km (53 mi) shorter than the current N2 (and 69 km shorter than the current R61) and will be a faster route by about 3 hours for heavy vehicles (1½ hours for light vehicles).[8][9]

Once this new 'Wild Coast Highway' is complete, the distance between Durban and East London will be reduced to 573 km (356 mi) and the overall route between Durban and Cape Town will be reduced to 1,621 km (1,007 mi), making the newer N2 the shorter route between Durban and Cape Town. The old N2 route passing through Harding, Kokstad and KwaBhaca would then be designated as the R102.[43]

The new greenfields sections in the Eastern Cape were categorized into seven packages.[44] Package 1 is from Ndwalane to Ntafufu, Package 2 is from Ntafufu to the Bambisana turn-off, Package 3 is from the Bambisana turn-off to Lingeni, Package 4 is from Lingeni to the Msikaba Bridge, Package 5 is from the Msikaba Bridge to the Mtentu Bridge, Package 6 is from the Mtentu Bridge to Kulumbe and Package 7 is from Kulumbe to the C. H. Mitchell Bridge.[44]

Board signs indicating the N2 to Port Shepstone and Port Edward

As of 2021, the road signs on the section of the R61 from Port Shepstone to Port Edward have already been changed to signs indicating the N2, indicating that this road from the Oribi Toll Plaza in Port Shepstone southwards will officially no-longer be designated as the R61.[45]

Also, as of August 2024, parts of the road in the Eastern Cape are under construction,[46][39][40][47] including Package 4 and Package 5.[48][49] The Msikaba Bridge is expected to be completed earliest in 2026[50] while the Mtentu Bridge, after several delays, is expected to be completed by the end of 2027.[37][38][42]

On 10 March 2026, it was reported that construction of the Msikaba and Mtentu bridges was facing renewed delays, credited to unforeseen circumstances revolving around geotechnical, slope-stability and drainage issues for the Mtentu Bridge and the partial collapse of the steel fabrication sector in South Africa for the Msikaba Bridge.[51]

Opposition and criticism

South Africa's national road agency, SANRAL, also initially planned to do some work on the existing 100 km (62 mi) section of the N2 highway from Port Shepstone to Durban[36][10] as part of this project, including installing toll plazas at Park Rynie[52][36] (midway between Port Shepstone and Durban; just north of the R612 off-ramp) and at Isipingo[52][36][53] (in the southern part of Durban; where the Durban Outer Ring Road begins).

SANRAL received opposition from the eThekwini Metropolitan Municipality council as well as several businesses in the area over the proposed Isipingo Toll Plaza due to concerns over expenses for drivers in Durban South and traffic in the same area.[53][36][52] Those businesses also didn't want any toll plazas found within KwaZulu-Natal to be used to finance the construction of the new greenfields section of road (between Port St. Johns and the C. H. Mitchell Bridge), which is in a different province (Eastern Cape).[54]

Several companies in the area, led by Toyota South Africa, took SANRAL to court, and the proposed Isipingo tollgate was cancelled.[55][56] The decision was made to scrap the plan to build any toll gate on the KwaZulu-Natal section of the Wild Coast Highway, which meant that the plan to construct a toll plaza at Park Rynie was also cancelled.[56][57]

The Amadiba Crisis Committee (ACC) has also expressed issues with the planned road and the Wild Coast region in which the road is to pass through, stating that it would divide the communal farming and grazing lands.[54] They advised SANRAL to reroute the proposed section between the C. H. Mitchell Bridge and the Mtentu Bridge inland, away from the coastline.[54][58][59] They held a protest in October 2024 at the Mtentu Bridge site.[60]

See also

References

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allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelson_Mandela_Boulevard_(South_Africa)