R74 (South Africa)

Provincial route R74 shield
Provincial route R74
Route information
Maintained by SANRAL, FSDPRT, and KZNDT
Length368 km (229 mi)
Major junctions
Northwest end N5 near Harrismith
Major intersections N3 near Frere
R33 in Greytown
Southeast end N2 near KwaDukuza
Location
CountrySouth Africa
Major citiesHarrismith, Bergville, Winterton, Colenso, Weenen, Greytown, KwaDukuza
Highway system
R73 R75

The R74 is a provincial route in South Africa that connects Harrismith with KwaDukuza (previously Stanger) on the coast, via Oliviershoek Pass, Bergville, Winterton, Colenso, Weenen and Greytown.[1]

Route

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Map
Detailed Route

Free State

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The R74 begins in Harrismith, Free State, at a t-junction with the N5 national route south of the town centre.[2] It begins by going southwards for eight kilometres to meet the eastern terminus of the R712 road, which connects to Phuthaditjhaba.[2]

KwaZulu-Natal

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The R74 continues south-south-east for sixty-four kilometres, crossing into the KwaZulu-Natal Province, bypassing the Woodstock Dam, to enter the town of Bergville, where it meets the western terminus of the R616 road.[2] Just after the Bergville town centre, the R74 crosses the Tugela River.

Overview over the Tugela basin from the Oliviershoek Pass. The R74 can be seen on the right

From Bergville, the R74 continues south-east for 20 kilometres to meet the R600 road and enter the town of Winterton, where it crosses the Little Tugela River in the town centre.[2] It continues south-east for twenty-two kilometres to reach an intersection with the N3 national route.[2] It continues eastwards for 2.5 kilometres to meet the R103 road north of Frere.[2]

The R103 joins the R74 and they are one road north-east for fifteen kilometres up to an off-ramp junction in the town of Colenso, where the R74 becomes its own road eastwards.[2] From Colenso, The R74 continues east-south-east for 93 kilometres, through Weenen, to meet the eastern terminus of the R622 road and enter the town of Greytown.[2] In the town centre, the R33 route joins the R74 and they are one road eastwards before the R33 becomes its own road northwards in the eastern suburbs, leaving the R74 as the road eastwards.

From Greytown, the R74 goes east-south-east for 103 kilometres to pass through KwaDukuza Central and reach a junction with the R102 road.[2] it continues eastwards for another two kilometres to reach its end at an off-ramp junction with the N2 national route.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Falkner, John (May 2012). South African Numbered Route Description and Destination Analysis (Report). National Department of Transport. p. 60. Archived from the original on 6 June 2014. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Road atlas of South Africa. London: New Holland. 1994. pp. 45–47. ISBN 978-1-85368-393-0.
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