Route information | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Maintained by Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure | ||||
Length | 141.5 km [1] (87.9 mi) | |||
Major junctions | ||||
West end | Highway 21 in Leader | |||
Highway 37 in Cabri | ||||
East end | Highway 1 (TCH) near Swift Current | |||
Location | ||||
Country | Canada | |||
Province | Saskatchewan | |||
Rural municipalities | Happyland, Clinworth, Miry Creek, Riverside, Saskatchewan Landing, Swift Current | |||
Highway system | ||||
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Highway 32 is a provincial highway in the south-western portion of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan connecting Highway 21 at Leader and Highway 1 (TCH) west of Swift Current. Highways that intersect Highway 32 include 649 at Lemsford, 738 at Abbey, 37 and 738 at Cabri, 632 at Pennant, 332 near Cantuar, and 728 near Highway 1. It is about 142 kilometres (88 mi) long.
By the early to mid-2000s, the condition of Highway 32 had deteriorated so badly that ambulances were avoiding it and a 2007 nude calendar was created featuring local citizens and the highway's potholes. The calendar gained world-wide attention and helped spur the highway's rebuilding. [2]
The first travel in this area was by foot, two-wheeled ox carts and horse-drawn freight wagons using trails on the sod. The first train arrived in Lancer in 1913. The late 1920s and 1930s saw the automobile arrive to a few families in the area. [3]
The subgrade construction of highway 32 was started in 1945 by E.R. Gibbs and gravelled 1947, 1955 and 1959. Oil treatment was commenced in 1965 and reoiled 1968.
- Improvements were made paving: Swift Current to Success 1969–71.
- Success to Cabri 1972–74
- Leader to Prelate by Wappell Construction 1986–87.
— Our Heritage Recalled: Prelate, Saskatchewan, 1908–1990 [4]
Highway 32 begins from Highway 21 at the south end of Leader [5] and travels in a south-east direction to Highway 1 west of Swift Current. To the north of the highway is the South Saskatchewan River and to the south are the Great Sand Hills. For its entire length, the highway follows the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR).
South-east of Leader, Highway 32 provides access to Leader Airport, [6] Prelate, and Sceptre. Sceptre is home to the Great Sandhills Museum, a metal wheat sculpture, and is the gateway to the Great Sand Hills. [7] Travelling east then south-east from Sceptre, Highway 32 provides access to the ghost towns of Lemsford, [8] Portreeve, [9] Shackleton, [10] and Battrum. [11] Also along that stretch of highway are the communities of Lancer, which has the Lancer museum and the 21-foot-high (6.4 m) Chokecherry Cluster sculpture, [12] Abbey, [13] and Cabri. Cabri is located at the junction of Highway 32 and Highway 37 and features oversized goose, antelope, and wheat sculptures. [14] Pennant, Success, and Cantuar are the final three stops on Highway 32 before it terminates at Highway 1 about 9 kilometres (5.6 mi) west of Swift Current.
Highway 32 had become infamous for its extremely poor condition, which can primarily be attributed to a substandard pavement design (thin membrane surface (TMS)) and claims of lack of maintenance. Sections of the highway were reverted to gravel and the condition of the route was so bad that ambulances were avoiding it as much as possible.
In 2006, to bring attention to the poor condition of the highway, 12 people — eleven men and one woman — from Leader produced a humorous, nude 2007 calendar. The calendar garnered world-wide attention and sold 3,000 copies raising $40,000 for a new roof on Leader's community hall. Also in 2006, bumper stickers were being sold that read, "I survived Sask Hwy 32". On 17 May 2006, Southwest TV News produced a three-part series regarding the highway and its road condition. A Letter of understanding (LOU) was signed by 22 south-west towns, municipalities, and government offices. [15]
In 2006, in response to public outcry over poor road conditions around the province, NDP Highways Minister Eldon Lautermilch said that "Saskatchewan can't afford the cost of maintaining all its roads". [16] In regards to Highway 32, he said a "nude calendar won't solve the problem" and that "they're very creative people". It was not until a change of government to the Saskatchewan Party in 2007 that there was a "change in attitude" towards fixing Highway 32. By 2010, much of the highway had been rebuilt. [17] [18]
Significant upgrades to Highway 32 include:
From west to east: [28]
Rural municipality | Location | km [1] | mi | Destinations | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Happyland No. 231 | Leader | 0.0 | 0.0 | Highway 21 to Highway 741 west – Kindersley, Maple Creek | ||||
Prelate | 10.2 | 6.3 | Range Road 3253 | |||||
Clinworth No. 230 | Lemsford | 29.9 | 18.6 | Highway 649 north – Lemsford Ferry | ||||
Miry Creek No. 229 | Lancer | 47.5 | 29.5 | Highway 639 north – Lancer Ferry | ||||
Abbey | 60.0 | 37.3 | Highway 738 south | |||||
Shackleton | 71.3 | 44.3 | Highway 633 south – Hazlet | |||||
Riverside No. 168 | Cabri | 86.4 | 53.7 | Highway 37 south / Highway 639 – Gull Lake | ||||
Pennant | 105.6 | 65.6 | Highway 632 | |||||
Saskatchewan Landing No. 167 | No major junctions | |||||||
Swift Current No. 137 | Cantuar | 131.4 | 81.6 | Highway 332 west – Hazlet | ||||
| 138.6 | 86.1 | Highway 728 west – Nadeauville | |||||
| 140.0 | 87.0 | To Highway 1 (TCH) west (Range Road 3152) – Medicine Hat | Access from Hwy 1 east | ||||
| 141.5 | 87.9 | Highway 1 (TCH) east – Swift Current, Regina | Interchange; westbound exit, eastbound entrance | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi |
Leader is a town in southwestern Saskatchewan, Canada, located approximately 350 kilometres (220 mi) directly east of Calgary, Alberta and is near the border between Saskatchewan and Alberta. It has a population of 863 as of 2016.
Division No. 8 is one of eighteen census divisions in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, as defined by Statistics Canada. It is located in the west-southwestern part of the province, bordering Alberta. The most populous community in this division is Swift Current.
Cabri is a town in southwestern Saskatchewan directly north of Gull Lake, northwest of Swift Current and east of the Great Sand Hills. It was incorporated as a village in 1912 and as a town in 1917.
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Highway 3 is a major provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border, where it continues west as Alberta Highway 45, to the Manitoba border, and then continues east as Highway 77. Highway 3 is about 615 km (382 mi.) long. The CanAm Highway comprises Saskatchewan Highways 35, 39, 6, 3, as well as 2. 59.7 miles (96.1 km) of Saskatchewan Highway 3 contribute to the CanAm Highway between Melfort and Prince Albert.
Highway 37 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Montana Secondary Highway 241 at the US border near the Port of Climax north to Highway 32 at Cabri. Highway 37 is about 186 kilometres (116 mi) long.
Highway 21 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from Montana Secondary Highway 233 at the United States border at Willow Creek to Highway 950 / Highway 919 within the Meadow Lake Provincial Park. Highway 21 is about 715 kilometres (444 mi) long.
Highway 13 is a highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It runs from the Alberta border until it transitions into Highway 2 at the Manitoba border near Antler. Highway 13 is about 676 km (420 mi.) long. Highway 13 passes through Shaunavon, Assiniboia, Weyburn, Redvers and Carlyle. It is also referred to as the Red Coat Trail, as much of its length follows the route of the original historic path. A majority of the route between Wauchope and Govenlock going through the Palliser's Triangle is also referred to as the Ghost Town Trail.
Saskatchewan Highway 19 is a provincial highway in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. The highway runs from Highway 15 near Hawarden south to Highway 18 east of Mankota and provides access to several communities, lakes, beaches, historical sites and buildings, and parks. It is about 269 kilometres (167 mi) long.
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The Rural Municipality of Clinworth No. 230 is a rural municipality (RM) in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan within Census Division No. 8 and SARM Division No. 3.
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