N17 (South Africa)


The N17 is a national route in South Africa which runs from Johannesburg to Oshoek on the border with Swaziland. It passes through Springs, Bethal and Ermelo.
The section of the N17 from Johannesburg to Springs is a dual carriageway and is a national toll route. It was the first urban toll road in Gauteng. It runs from the M11 Wemmer Pan Road in Johannesburg to Tonk Meter Road in Springs. The first part of the N17 used to be the old R77 which ran from the M46 Rand Airport Road to the R23. As part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme, two slip roads have been made linking the N17 to the N12. It is now possible to travel from the N17 West to the N12 West and from the N12 East to the N17 East, both at the Elands Interchange. From Tonk Meter Road the N17 is a single carriageway freeway. The section from Springs to Leandra, ending at the interchange with the R50, was constructed by the then Transvaal Provincial Administration in 1990 as a single carriageway road..
From Leandra, the N17 then followed the alignment of the R29 to Ermelo, and thereafter the R65 to Oshoek. However, the N17 at that time traversed through four towns causing delays to the traveling public, and safety risks to the local public, especially pedestrians. The R29 was also badly potholed, and without passing lanes or even shoulders, making the section from Leandra to Ermelo dangerous.
SANRAL commenced with toll feasibility investigations in 2001 for the N17 after which consultants were appointed for the rehabilitation, upgrading as well as design of new sections for the N17 from Springs to Ermelo. In order to enable SANRAL to refund loans for the funding of the rehabilitation project, it was inevitable that the N17 from Springs to Oshoek in the Mpumalanga Province would also be declared a continuous toll road and toll plazas will be erected.
The existing single lane carriageway between Springs and Leandra has been rehabilitated with improvements to the vertical and horizontal alignment, paved shoulders, grade separated interchanges at the R548 and R42, and climbing/passing lanes. The new section between Leandra and Trichardt has been completed, and the first toll plaza at the interchange with the R50 is now open. As of October 2011, the N17 rejoins the old alignment just east of Kinross. Other improvements will include a new section past Trichardt and in Bethal.
The N17 East Toll Road comprises Section 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the proclaimed N17 route. In general terms the route can be described as the existing N17 between Springs and Oshoek, with approximately 26 km of newly constructed sections. The total length of the route is 290 km.

Route

Gauteng

The N17 begins in the southern suburbs of Johannesburg, north of Rosettenville, at a t-junction with Wemmer Pan Road, heading eastwards. It continues eastwards for ten kilometres, passing under the N12 Highway, to form an interchange with the N3 Highway just south of Rand Airport. As part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Project, there are now two slip roads; one linking the N17 West to the N12 West and one linking the N12 East to the N17 East. Just after the N3 interchange is the Gosforth Toll Plaza.
From the N3 Interchange, the N17 goes eastwards through the City of Ekurhuleni for thirty kilometres, bypassing Germiston, Boksburg, Benoni and Brakpan, to Springs, where there are off-ramp junctions with Tonk Meter Road and Nigel-Springs Road . This marks the end of section 1 of the proclaimed N17 route. On this section, at the R23 junction in the suburb of Dalpark in Brakpan, is a tollgate.
The N17 National Route continues for 50 kilometres eastwards from the Springs Junction, bypassing Devon, to reach the town of Leandra, which is the first town in the Mpumalanga Province. This marks the end of section 2 of the proclaimed N17 route.
From Johannesburg, the N17 is followed by the R29 Road. This road may be used as an alternative in times when the N17 Section 2 is experiencing issues.

Mpumalanga

In Leandra, the N17 reaches an intersection with the R50 road, which is the end of section 2. On the eastern side of the junction, there is a tollgate.
The N17 used to form a Z-shape in Leandra, being concurrent with the R50 from this junction north-westwards for 3 kilometers up to the junction with the R29, where the N17 would continue eastwards. But Today, the N17 is a continuous highway from its primary junction with the R50.
So, as the R29 used to end at the junction with the R50, it now also continues eastwards on that old section of the N17 route through Leandra Central and Kinross Central, remaining an alternative route to the current N17.
From the R50 junction, the N17 continues eastwards for twenty kilometres, bypassing Kinross, to meet the R580 road at a point north-east of Evander and north-west of Secunda, which marks the point where the N17 joins its old alignment. This junction, known as the Leven Station Junction, also marks the eastern end of the R29 route.
From the R29/R580 junction, the N17 continues eastwards for another ten kilometres to reach the town of Trichardt. As the N17 used to pass through the Trichardt town centre, it has now been realigned to bypass it to the north, remaining one continuous highway. Just after Trichardt is a tollgate.
From Trichardt, the N17 continues eastwards for 25 kilometres to reach the town of Bethal, which marks the end of section 3 of the proclaimed N17 route. Plans are underway to find a route for construction in order for traffic to skip the town centre.
North of Bethal town centre, the N17 meets the R35 and R38 routes and they become one road through the town centre. East of Bethal Hospital, the R38 becomes its own road south-west and in the southern suburbs, the R35 becomes its own road southwards.
From the R35 split in Bethal, the N17 goes eastwards for fifty kilometres to the city of Ermelo, which marks the end of section 4 of the proclaimed N17 route. Before Ermelo, there is a tollgate. Plans are underway to find a route for construction in order for traffic to skip the town centre.
In Ermelo Central, the N17 enters as Joubert Street and reaches an intersection with the N11 national route, just one kilometre north of its intersection with the N2 national route terminus. The N17 joins the N11 northwards up to the junction with Fourie Street, where the N17 turns eastwards. The route continues towards the north-east.
At the junction with the R36 road 7 kilometres from Ermelo Central, the N17 continues by way of a right turn.
3 kilometers before the town of Warburton, the N11 is joined by the R33 route eastwards and they are one road, bypassing Warburton, for 10 kilometers before the R33 becomes its own road southwards.
The N17 continues eastwards to reach the Oshoek border post with Eswatini, marking its end. It becomes the MR3 road on the other side and proceeds through Ngwenya to the city of Mbabane.
The 5th and last section of the proclaimed N17 route, from Ermelo through Chrissiesmeer, Warburton and Hartebeeskop to Oshoek is 123 kilometers. The total distance of the N17 National Route from Johannesburg is 330 Kilometres.

Proposed Extension

It is often forgotten that the N17 is intended to continue west from its present terminus with the M11 at Wemmer Pan Road, Johannesburg to Krugersdorp. This would make it the much needed second link between the East and West Rand.
As part of the infrastructure built for the Soccer World Cup in 2010, a small portion of the N17, Section 1 has been built, including an interchange with the N1 Highway . However, the N17 remains a dual carriageway road, and not freeway for this section. It runs for approximately 8km from the M5 Baragwanath Road north of FNB Stadium and then sharply veers off its alignment to end at the northern end of Klipsruit Road north of Soweto. Even though this short stretch of road is labelled as the N17 to the near public, there are no plans to build the remainder of the N17 in either direction.

Improvements in detail

Improvements to the section between Springs and Leandra (48km)

SANRAL constructed interchanges at the Nigel and Devon intersections to address high accident rates. In addition, passing and climbing lanes were constructed.

New section between Leandra and Leven Station (21km)

This is a completely new section. The section was constructed as a limited access road with interchanges. Initially, only one carriageway of a future dual carriageway has been constructed. The section will have paved shoulders and passing and climbing lanes. A mainline toll plaza will be constructed on this section.

Improvements to the section between Leven Station and Trichardt (12km)

The pavement will be rehabilitated as it has reached the end of its design life. The addition of paved shoulders as well as passing and climbing lanes. A ringroad section will be constructed around Trichardt. Grade separated intersections will be provided at high volume intersections.

Section between Trichardt and Bethal (30km)

The pavement will be rehabilitated as it has reached the end of its design life. The addition of paved shoulders as well as passing and climbing lanes. The construction of a link road to eliminate the staggered route alignment through Bethal. The provision of grade separated intersections at high volume intersections. A mainline toll plaza will be constructed on this section.

Section between Bethal and Ermelo (50km)

The pavement will be rehabilitated as it has reached the end of its design life. The improvement of the vertical and horizontal road alignment. The addition of paved shoulders as well as passing and climbing lanes. Consolidation of accesses and improvement of intersections. A mainline toll plaza will be constructed on this section.

Section between Ermelo and Oshoek (130km)

Initially, this section will be properly maintained as part of the toll project. Thereafter, the following actions will follow:
Periodic maintenance actions;
Minor improvements of the vertical and horizontal road alignment;
The addition of a narrow paved shoulders as well as passing and climbing lanes; consolidation of accesses and improvement of intersections;