The R717 is a
Regional Route in
South Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the north by the neighbouring countri ...
that connects
Colesberg
Colesberg is a town with 17,354 inhabitants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, located on the main N1 road from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
In a sheep-farming area spread over half-a-million hectares, greater Colesberg breeds many ...
with
Dewetsdorp
Dewetsdorp is a small town in the Free State (province), Free State province of South Africa, 68 km south-east of Bloemfontein. The town was set up, without approval of the Volksraad of the South African Republic, Volksraad, by field-cornet J ...
via
Trompsburg
Trompsburg is a town in the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa off the N1 (South Africa), N1 highway, the major road connection between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Background
The town is 120 km south-we ...
,
Edenburg
Edenburg is a town situated about south of Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa. , it had a population of 14,566.
Background
Edenburg was proclaimed a town in 1863 and received municipal government in 1891.
The town is 85 ...
and
Reddersburg
Reddersburg is a small sheep and cattle farming town in the Free State province of South Africa on the N6 National Route 60 kilometres south of Bloemfontein.
History
The town was established around the Reformed Church Reddersburg, which was es ...
. From Colesberg to Reddersburg, it follows the older route of the
N1.
Route
It south-western terminus is in
Colesberg
Colesberg is a town with 17,354 inhabitants in the Northern Cape province of South Africa, located on the main N1 road from Cape Town to Johannesburg.
In a sheep-farming area spread over half-a-million hectares, greater Colesberg breeds many ...
,
Northern Cape
The Northern Cape is the largest and most sparsely populated province of South Africa. It was created in 1994 when the Cape Province was split up. Its capital is Kimberley. It includes the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, part of the Kgalagadi T ...
, at an interchange with the
N1 National Route, the
R369 Road and the
R58 Road. From there, it heads north-north-east, crossing the
Orange River
The Orange River (from Afrikaans/Dutch: ''Oranjerivier'') is a river in Southern Africa. It is the longest river in South Africa. With a total length of , the Orange River Basin extends from Lesotho into South Africa and Namibia to the north ...
into
Free State.
The first town it comes to is
Philippolis
Philippolis is a town in the Free State province of South Africa. The town is the birthplace of many South African celebrities including the writer and intellectual Sir Laurens van der Post, actress Brümilda van Rensburg and Springboks rugby p ...
. From this town, it heads north-east to
Trompsburg
Trompsburg is a town in the Free State (South African province), Free State province of South Africa off the N1 (South Africa), N1 highway, the major road connection between Johannesburg and Cape Town.
Background
The town is 120 km south-we ...
. At Trompsburg, it receives the south-eastern terminus of the
R704. From Trompsburg until
Edenburg
Edenburg is a town situated about south of Bloemfontein in the Free State province of South Africa. , it had a population of 14,566.
Background
Edenburg was proclaimed a town in 1863 and received municipal government in 1891.
The town is 85 ...
, the route parallels the N1. In Edenburg's town centre, it turns east-north-east, crossing the N1 and proceeding to reach the
N6 just 800 m south of
Reddersburg
Reddersburg is a small sheep and cattle farming town in the Free State province of South Africa on the N6 National Route 60 kilometres south of Bloemfontein.
History
The town was established around the Reformed Church Reddersburg, which was es ...
.
It is briefly cosigned with the N6, heading north, before splitting off in central Reddersburg to continue in an easterly direction, reaching its north-eastern terminus of
Dewetsdorp
Dewetsdorp is a small town in the Free State (province), Free State province of South Africa, 68 km south-east of Bloemfontein. The town was set up, without approval of the Volksraad of the South African Republic, Volksraad, by field-cornet J ...
, where it ends at a junction with the
R702.
References
Regional Routes in the Free State (province)
Regional Routes in the Northern Cape
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