 The first part of the N17 used to be the old R77 which ran from the M46 Rand Airport Road to the R23.As part of the Gauteng Freeway Improvement Scheme, two slip roads have been made linking the N17 to the N12.It is now possible to travel from the N17 West to the N12 West and from the N12 East to the N17 East, both at the Elands Interchange (previously only possible via the N3).