The N9 is a national route in South Africa that connects the N2 at George with the N1 at Colesberg via Graaff-Reinet and Middelburg.
Route
Western Cape The N9 begins just south-east of George in the Western Cape at an intersection with the N2. It runs concurrently with the N12 through the center of George and then north over the Outeniqua Pass. At the top of the pass, at the intersection with the R62, the N9 and N12 split, with the N12 being cosigned with the R62 northwards towards Oudtshoorn while the N9 turns east, cosigned with the R62, to run along the northern side of the Outeniqua Mountains and over Potjiesberg Pass.
After 71 kilometres, the N9 and the R62 split, with the R62 becoming its own road eastwards while the N9 turns northwards and enters the town of Uniondale, before becoming the Buyspoort Pass and proceeding onwards to Willowmore in the Eastern Cape.
Eastern Cape From Willowmore, the N9 travels across the Eastern Cape Karoo as the Perdepoort Pass, through Aberdeen to Graaff-Reinet. At Aberdeen, the N9 is joined by the R61 and they are concurrent through Graaff-Reinet (where they meet the R63) and for the next 46 kilometres before the R61 becomes its own road eastwards near Nieu-Bethesda.
From Graaff-Reinet it crosses the Sneeuberge through Naudesberg Pass and Lootsberg Pass to Middelburg, where it meets the N10 south of the town centre. The N10 joins the N9 to form an eastern bypass around Middelburg before proceeding northwards out of the town. After being concurrent for 24 kilometres, the N10 becomes its own road north-west towards De Aar.
Northern Cape The N9 continues northwards, entering the Northern Cape, through Noupoort, to end at an intersection with the N1 just outside Colesberg (west of the town centre).
Uniondale Ghost An urban legend in the "vanishing hitchhiker" tradition arose after a girl named Marie Charlotte Roux was killed in an auto accident not far from Uniondale on Easter Sunday of 1968. According to press reports, beginning in 1973 and for years afterward around the anniversary of her death, the girl's spirit hitchhiked along the road and allegedly vanished after being picked up by various drivers. According to folklorist Sigrid Schmidt:
Junctions
Western Cape MunicipalityLocationkmmiExitDestinationsNotesGeorgeGeorge00(437), Mossel Bay, KnysnaSouthern end of concurrency with N1200— York Street, George Central, George Airport, Mossel BayAt-grade traffic circle00— Montagu Street, George Airport, Herolds BayAt-grade intersectionHerold00—, north, OudtshoornAt-grade intersection; Northern end of concurrency with N12; Western end of concurrency with R62Avontuur00— east, Avontuur, JoubertinaAt-grade intersection; Eastern end of concurrency with R62Uniondale00— Voortrekker Street south, Uniondale, AvontuurAt-grade intersection; Southern end of concurrency with R33900— north, De RustAt-grade intersection; Northern end of concurrency with R33900—, De RustAt-grade intersection continues into the Eastern Cape
Eastern Cape MunicipalityLocationkmmiExitDestinationsNotesDr Beyers NaudéWillowmore00—, Winterhoek, HumansdorpAt-grade intersection00—, Steytlerville, Gqeberha00—, Rietbron, Beaufort WestAberdeen00— Hoop Street, Aberdeen, Klipplaat, west, Beaufort WestAt-grade intersection; Southern end of concurrency with R61Graaff-Reinet00— south, Somerset East, GqeberhaAt-grade intersection; Southern end of concurrency with R6300— Caledon Street west, MurraysburgAt-grade intersection; Northern end of concurrency with R63Nieu-Bethesda00— east, NxubaAt-grade intersection; Northern end of concurrency with R61Inxuba YethembaMiddelburg00— south, Nxuba, Meintjies Street, MiddelburgQuadrant interchange with ramps; Southern end of concurrency with N1000—, Middelburg, SteynsburgQuadrant interchange00— north, Hanover, De AarAt-grade intersection; Northern end of concurrency with N10 continues into the Northern Cape
Northern Cape MunicipalityLocationkmmiExitDestinationsNotesUmsobomvuNoupoort00— Shaw Street, Noupoort, HanoverAt-grade intersectionColesberg00(794A) south, Cape TownSigned as exit 794 southbound00(794B) north, BloemfonteinNorthbound exit, southbound entrance00—Sluiters Street, ColesbergAt-grade intersection ends
See also R306 (Eastern Cape) connecting road
References
External links
South African National Roads Agency Route listing :fr:Outeniqua Pass