In South Africa, national routes constitute a numbered network of roads starting with an "N" prefix [1][2]. They usually connect major centres. Although the terms National Road and National Route are often used interchangably in everyday conversation, the two are not synonymous, and some Regional Routes (R routes) are actually proclaimed National Roads, while some sections of "N" routes are not proclaimed.[3]
The system was mostly built during the 1970s by the National Party government of South Africa, although construction of new roads and repairs of existing stretches continue today. The system was modeled on the United States Interstate Highway network, an idea first brought into effect by US President Dwight D. Eisenhower during the 1950s, based on the German Autobahn, which he experienced when touring Germany after the Second World War.
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The physical scope of an instance of the abstract concept National Route may include many different stretches of paved road comprising more a total route than any single road.
National Routes are denoted with the letter N followed by a number indicating the specific route. On maps and some signage, national routes are shown by a pentagon with the number of the road inside.
The roads that form National Routes may be owned and maintained by various authorities. The National Roads Agency (SANRAL) maintains and owns the portions that are proclaimed National Roads, while other sections are maintained by various provincial and local authorities. An example of this are the portions of the N1 and N2 close to Cape Town, which are maintained and owned by the City of Cape Town and Provincial Government of the Western Cape.[5] Similarly, portions of the N3 close to Durban, are owned and maintained by the eThekwini Metropolitan Muncipality,[6][7] and part of the N14 in Gauteng is owned and maintained by the Gauteng Department of Roads and Transport.[8]
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