The N5 is a
national route in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. Its Provinces of South Africa, nine provinces are bounded to the south by of coastline that stretches along the Atlantic O ...
that connects the
N1 at
Winburg
Winburg is a small mixed farming town in the Free State province of South Africa.
It is the oldest proclaimed town (1837) in the Orange Free State, South Africa and along with Griekwastad, is one of the oldest settlements in South Africa loc ...
with the
N3 at
Harrismith, via
Senekal
Senekal is a town situated on the banks of the Sand River (Free State), Sand River in the eastern part of the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa. It was named after Commandant FP Senekal, who led the encro ...
,
Paul Roux and
Bethlehem
Bethlehem is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, located about south of Jerusalem, and the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. It had a population of people, as of . The city's economy is strongly linked to Tourism in the State of Palesti ...
.
Route
The N5 begins in
Winburg
Winburg is a small mixed farming town in the Free State province of South Africa.
It is the oldest proclaimed town (1837) in the Orange Free State, South Africa and along with Griekwastad, is one of the oldest settlements in South Africa loc ...
, at an interchange with the
N1 and the
R708 north-west of the town centre. It is initially co-signed with the R708 eastwards, bypassing Winburg to the north (where the
R709 provides access to the town centre). After 9 kilometres, the R708 becomes its own road south-east towards
Marquard
Marquard is a small farming town in the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa that serves Winburg in the northwest. The town was set up in 1905 by an influential Dutch Reformed Church, Dutch Reform minister, J ...
, 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
Senekal is a town situated on the banks of the Sand River (Free State), Sand River in the eastern part of the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa. It was named after Commandant FP Senekal, who led the encro ...
. In Senekal West, the N5 is joined by the
R70 from
Ventersburg
Ventersburg is a small town in the Lejweleputswa District Municipality of the Free State (province), Free State province in South Africa, 148 km north of Bloemfontein.
History
It was established on the farm Kromfontein which was owned by PA ...
and the
R707 from Marquard and they form one road eastwards through the Senekal town centre as Voortrekker Street. After 8 kilometres, east of Senekal, the R707 becomes its own road to the north-east and after another 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
Bethlehem is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, located about south of Jerusalem, and the capital of the Bethlehem Governorate. It had a population of people, as of . The city's economy is strongly linked to Tourism in the State of Palesti ...
, 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 and the south-eastern terminus of the
R76 at the Commissioner Street junction. The R26 joins the N5 and they are
co-signed 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 western terminus of the
R712 before crossing the
As River
The As River is a tributary of the Liebenbergsvlei River in the eastern Free State (province), Free State, South Africa. Since 1968 it is impounded by the Sol Plaatje Dam (formerly: Saulspoort Dam) at its confluence with the latter river, just ...
.
From Bethlehem, the N5 heads eastwards for 37 kilometres to bypass the town of
Kestell and meet the
R57 at an off-ramp junction north of the town centre. From Kestell, the N5 heads eastwards for 41 kilometres to meet the north-western terminus of the
R74 and enter the city of
Harrismith. Just south of the Harrismith City Centre, the N5 crosses the
Wilge River
The Wilge River (, meaning "willow river") is a tributary of the Vaal River in central South Africa. This river is important as part of the Tugela-Vaal Water Transfer Scheme where water is transferred from the Tugela River basin to the Vaal R ...
and reaches its eastern terminus at an interchange with the
N3.
References
External links
National Roads Agency SA
{{coord missing, South Africa
National routes in South Africa
Roads in South Africa