The M2 in the afternoon as it passes through the Central Business District.

Johannesburg is heavily dependent upon freeways for transportation around the city due to its location 1500 metres above sea level, far from the coast or any major bodies of water. There are 10 freeways in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area: the N1, N3, N12, N14, N17, R21, R24, R59, M1 and M2. In addition, three new freeways are planned: the G5, G9 and G14. Freeways are sometimes called highways or motorways colloquially. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1279x853, 129 KB)The M2 in the CBD of Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1279x853, 129 KB)The M2 in the CBD of Johannesburg, South Africa in January 2006. ... The M2 is a major highway in Johannesburg, South Africa. ... The Central Business District as seen from the top of the Carlton Centre. ... The metre, or meter (U.S.), is a measure of length. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... The Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area is the official name of the area surrounding the city of Johannesburg, in South Africa. ... Route map of the N1 Route The N1 is a South African National Road, running from Cape Town to Beit Bridge on the border with Zimbabwe. ... Map of the route of the N3 The N3 is a highway in South Africa that forms a part of the National Road System, connecting Johannesburg and Durban, respectively South Africas largest and second-largest cities. ... The N12 is a national road in South Africa. ... The R21 is a major north-south regional route in eastern Gauteng Province, South Africa that links the Pretoria city centre, with Johannesburg International Airport, and Boksburg. ... The R24 is a major East-West Regional Route in the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area that links Johannesburg International Airport with Magaliesburg via Johannesburg and Krugersdorp. ... The R59 is a Regional Route in South Africa that connects Hertzogville with Alberton via Parys and Vereeniging. ... The M1 during rush hour as it passes through Sandton. ... The M2 is a major highway in Johannesburg, South Africa. ... A highway is a major road within a city, or linking several cities together. ... A motorway (United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, and some Commonwealth nations) is both a type of road and a classification. ...

The N1, N3, and N12 form the Johannesburg Ring Road around the city. The N14 connects the West Rand with Pretoria, and could possibly form part of a future Johannesburg second outer ring road. The N17 connects the Johannesburg Central Business District and southern parts of the city with Springs on the East Rand and the province of Mpumalanga. The R21 connects the East Rand and OR Tambo International Airport with Pretoria. The R24 connects central Johannesburg to the airport. The R59 connects Johannesburg with Vereeniging in the Vaal Triangle. The M1 runs the length of the city north-south, from Soweto to Buccleuch, where it becomes the N1. The Johannesburg-Pretoria highway is also called the Ben Schoeman Highway. The M2 runs the length of the central part of the city east-west, from Germiston to Main Reef Road. The Johannesburg Ring Road is one of Africas most famous beltways or ring roads/orbitals. ... A map of the West Rand. ... City motto: Praestantia Praevaleat Pretoria (May Pretoria Be Pre-eminent In Excellence) Province Gauteng Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... City motto: Unity in Development Province Gauteng Mayor Amos Masondo Area  - % water 1,644 km² 0. ... The Central Business District as seen from the top of the Carlton Centre. ... Springs is a city in Gauteng province, South Africa and is part of the East Rand region. ... A map of Gauteng, showing the East Rand. ... Mpumalanga, (name changed from Eastern Transvaal on 24 August 1995), is a province in South Africa. ... A map of Gauteng, showing the East Rand. ... OR Tambo International Airport (IATA: JNB, ICAO: FAJS) is a large airport near the city of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. ... Vereeniging is a city in Gauteng province, South Africa, with a population of more than 350,000. ... The Vaal Triangle is a triangular area of land formed by Vereeniging, Vanderbijlpark and Sasolburg - three small cities that together comprise a substantial urban complex in South Africa. ... Johannesburg, including Soweto, from the International Space Station Soweto is an urban area in Johannesburg, in Gauteng, South Africa. ... Germiston in the East Rand of Gauteng is South Africas sixth largest city with 70% of the western worlds gold passing through its gold refinery. ...

The N1 between Johannesburg and Pretoria is now becoming severely overloaded. Reports suggest that the road carries 160,000 vehicles a day between the two cities. The road is heavily congested as traffic enters Johannesburg in the mornings and leaves at night, as many people work in Johannesburg but live in Pretoria. As a result, the Gauteng Provincial Government has put in motion plans to alleviate heavy traffic congestion, which is likely to worsen. One plan that is scheduled to be completed before South Africa hosts the 2010 Football World Cup is the Gautrain: a rapid rail system with a north-south line between Johannesburg and Pretoria, and an east-west line between OR Tambo International Airport and Sandton. The 2010 Football World Cup will take place in South Africa. ... An artists impression of the trains to be built for the Gautrain system (Bombardier press image). ... A railway yard in Portland, Oregon. ... Sandton is a town in the northern part of the Greater Johannesburg Metropolitan Area, South Africa in the Gauteng Province. ...

The Star and Engineering News report that three new freeways have been planned for Johannesburg:

• The G9, linking the northern part of Johannesburg with the western part of Pretoria, aligned along the existing R80 axis known as the Mabopane Freeway. It will run parallel to the N1 and will intersect with the N14.

• The G5, which will link the R21 with the new G9, crossing the N1 at the Olifantsfontein interchange.

• The G14 will provide a new link between the existing M2 and OR Tambo International Airport via Germiston.

In addition, there are plans afoot to extend the N17 from its end in Johannesburg central, to Krugersdorp, which will allow motorists to traverse the metropolitan area in under an hour in free-flowing traffic.