N5 (South Africa)

The N5 is a national route in South Africa that connects the N1 at Winburg with the N3 at Harrismith, via Senekal, Paul Roux and Bethlehem.[1]

National route N5
Route information
Maintained by SANRAL
Length235 km (146 mi)
Major junctions
West end N1 at Winburg
East end N3 at Harrismith
Location
Major citiesBethlehem, Harrismith
Highway system
Numbered routes of South Africa
← N4→ N6

It forms part of the main route between Durban and Bloemfontein.

Most motorists going from Cape Town prefer to use the N1 to Winburg, the N5 to Harrismith & the N3 from here onwards to reach Durban rather than passing through the South Coast, as this route is safer & less complicated.

Route

The N5 begins in Winburg, at an interchange with the N1 National Route north-west of the town centre. It is initially co-signed with the R708 Route eastwards. After 9 kilometres, the R708 becomes its own road south-east towards Marquard, leaving the N5 as the easterly road.

From the R708 split east of Winburg, the N5 heads east for 54 kilometres to the town of Senekal. In Senekal West, the N5 is joined by the R70 Route from Ventersburg and the R707 Route from Marquard and they are one road eastwards through the Senekal town centre. After 8 kilometres, east of Senekal, the R707 becomes its own road to the north-east and after another 1 kilometre, the R70 becomes its own road to the south-east.

From the R70 split east of Senekal, the N5 heads eastwards for 60 kilometres, through Paul Roux, to the city of Bethlehem, where it passes through the city centre as two one-way-streets (Muller Street eastwards and Kerk Street westwards). In the Bethlehem City Centre, the N5 meets the R26 Route and the southern terminus of the R76 Route at the Commissioner Street junction. The R26 joins the N5 and they are one road eastwards through the city centre up to the Hospital Road junction where the R26 becomes the road northwards and the N5 becomes the road southwards. It turns to the south-east and meets the northern terminus of the R712 Route before crossing the As River.

From Bethlehem, the N5 heads eastwards for 37 kilometres to bypass the town of Kestell and meet the R57 Route at an off-ramp junction north of the town centre. From Kestell, the N5 heads eastwards for 41 kilometres to meet the western terminus of the R74 Route and enter the city of Harrismith. Just south of the Harrismith City Centre, the N5 crosses the Wilge River and reaches its eastern terminus at an interchange with the N3 National Route.

References
  1. Falkner, John (May 2012). South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis (Report). National Department of Transport. p. 18. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.

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