The R61 is a long provincial route in South Africa that connects Beaufort West with Port Shepstone via Graaff-Reinet, Komani (previously Queenstown), Mthatha and Port Edward. The R61 is co-signed with the N9 for 103 kilometres from Aberdeen through Graaff-Reinet to Bethesdaweg, and with the N6 for 18 kilometres near Queenstown. Route KwaZulu-Natal The R61 begins in Port Shepstone at an interchange with the N2 Highway from Durban (at the Oribi Toll Plaza). As the N2 leaves the freeway at an off-ramp and becomes the road westwards towards Harding and Kokstad, the R61 takes over as the freeway south-south-west through the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast. As the 1st section is maintained by SANRAL, the R61 is a toll road for 22 km from the N2 Interchange, through Shelly Beach, Margate and Ramsgate, up to Southbroom. At Southbroom, it stops being both a toll road and a highway. From Port Shepstone to Southbroom, the R61 is followed by the R620. From Southbroom the R61 resumes south-south-west for 25 kilometres to Port Edward. Just after Port Edward, the R61 leaves the KwaZulu-Natal Province and crosses the Mtamvuna River via the C. H. Mitchell Bridge into the Eastern Cape Province. Eastern Cape From the provincial boundary (Mtamvuna River), the R61 heads north-west for 50 km to the town of Bizana, which it bypasses to the south. From Bizana, the R61 continues westwards for 25 kilometres to reach a junction with the R394 Road, where the R61 turns southwards and heads 110 kilometres, through Flagstaff and Lusikisiki, to cross the Mzimvubu River and bypass the town of Port St. Johns to the north. Just after crossing the river, it continues westwards for 87 kilometres, bypassing Libode, to the city of Mthatha, where it crosses the Mthatha River and meets the N2 National Route again in the city centre. From Mthatha, the R61 heads westwards for 83 kilometres as the All Saints Neck Pass, bypassing Mthatha Airport, to the town of Ngcobo, where it meets the eastern terminus of the R58 Road and the R61 turns to the south-south-west. At the R409 intersection near Tsomo, the R61 turns to the west and heads for 80 kilometres, through Cofimvaba and Qamata, to reach a t-junction with the N6 National Route. The R61 joins the N6 and they become one road north-west into the town of Komani (formerly Queenstown). At the roundabout with Barrable Street in Komani, the