It is considered to be South Africa's first mountain pass.

It was built to cross the great Nuweveld Mountain Range, thus connecting the central Karoo and its oldest town Beaufort West, to the vast expanse of the Northern Cape.

[2] It was completed in May 1881, and named after a local entrepreneur and farmer John Molteno who was instrumental in the area's upliftment and development in the 1800s.

He also represented the region in parliament and went on to become the Cape's first Prime Minister.

On its route it passes the Karoo National Park.