R27 (South Africa)

The R27 is a provincial route in South Africa that consists of two disjoint segments. The first segment, also known as the West Coast Highway, connects Cape Town with Velddrif along the West Coast. The second runs from Vredendal via Vanrhynsdorp, Calvinia, Brandvlei and Kenhardt to Keimoes on the N14 near Upington.[1] The connection between Velddrif and Vredendal has never been built, although it can be driven on various gravel roads.

Provincial route R27
Route information
Maintained by WCDTPW and SANRAL
Major junctions
South end	N1 in Cape Town
	R45 near Langebaanweg N7 in Vanrhynsdorp R63 near Calvinia
North end	N14 in Keimoes
Location
Major cities	Cape Town, Milnerton, Melkbosstrand, Velddrif, Vredendal, Vanrhynsdorp, Calvinia, Brandvlei, Kenhardt, Keimoes
Highway system
Numbered routes of South Africa ← R26 → R28

Originally the R27 designation continued beyond Upington all the way to Pretoria, but this section became part of the N14 and various other roads.

In Cape Town the highway connects with FW de Klerk Boulevard (N1) near the Table Bay Harbor and then runs north along the coast for stretch that is known as Marine Drive. This stretch contains many industrial warehouses. Later the road moves further inland and the M14 becomes the main coastal road. Further north the road passes through West Coast National Park before reaching Velddrif.

The northern segment of the road is exceptionally desolate; it is a distance of 370 kilometres (230 mi) from Calvinia to Keimoes, and the only towns along the way are Brandvlei and Kenhardt.

View from Vanrhyns Pass, a section of the R27 on the Bokkeveld Escarpment. In the valley below the road continues to Vanrhynsdorp, with the Knersvlakte region to the right.