 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Route information | |
| Length | 20.4 km (12.7 mi) |
| Existed | 1986–present |
| Major junctions | |
| West end |  N1 Diepkloof Interchange |
| Major intersections |  M1 Uncle Charlies Interchange M17 Xavier Street, Ridgeway M7 Kliprivier Drive, Suideroord M11 Comaro Street, Oakdene R59 Reading Interchange, Alberton  R103 /M31 Voortrekker Road, Alberton N17 Elands Interchange, Germiston |
| east end |  N3 Elands Interchange, Germiston |
| Location | |
| Country | South Africa |
| Highway system | |
TheN12 Southern Bypass is a section of theJohannesburg Ring Road that forms a beltway around the city ofJohannesburg,South Africa, as part of theN12. The freeway was the last section of the Ring Road to be built, with the final section opening in 1986. As part of the old South African Freeways, It was initially called the N13.[1][2][3][4] The entire Southern Bypass freeway was ane-toll highway (withopen road tolling) from 3 December 2013[5] to 11 April 2024.[6][7]
From the west, the Southern Bypass begins at the Diepkloof Interchange, where it splits from theN1 freeway. It ends at the Elands Interchange, where it merges with theN3 freeway to be cosigned with it on theN3 Eastern Bypass northwards. The exits include theM1 Uncle Charlie's Interchange (north eastbound only),M17 Xavier Street,M7 Kliprivier Drive,M11 Comaro Road,R59 Reading Interchange, andR103/M31 Voortrekker Road (Alberton).
The N12 Southern Bypass, which cuts a concrete swath through the rocky hills ofsouthern Johannesburg, is apparently very reminiscent of the freeways ofLos Angeles, and together with Johannesburg's sunshine, renders a realSouthern California feel to that part of the city.
As with theN1 Western Bypass, the freeway was built with concrete between Reading and Diepkloof and has always been three lanes wide in either direction, fanning out into four lanes at Reading. The freeway passes through a declaredgreen belt area to the south of Johannesburg, which has prevented the construction ofbillboards along the roadside, a common practice in the city.[8][9][10]
