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 km 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.

History

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.

Travel route

Highway 32 begins from Highway 21 at the south end of Leader 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, Prelate, and Sceptre. Sceptre is home to the Great Sandhills Museum, a metal wheat sculpture, and is the gateway to the Great Sand Hills. Travelling east then south-east from Sceptre, Highway 32 provides access to the ghost towns of Lemsford, Portreeve, Shackleton, and Battrum. Also along that stretch of highway are the communities of Lancer, which has the Lancer museum and the 21 ft Chokecherry Cluster sculpture, Abbey, and Cabri. Cabri is located at the junction of Highway 32 and Highway 37 and features oversized goose, antelope, and wheat sculptures. Pennant, Success, and Cantuar are the final three stops on Highway 32 before it terminates at Highway 1 about 9 km west of Swift Current.

Maintenance and upgrades

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. 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". 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. Significant upgrades to Highway 32 include:

Major intersections

From west to east: