Saskatchewan Highway 32

Infobox road
state=SK
type=Hwy
route=32
alternate_name=Trans-Canada Highway


length_km=140
length_round=0
length_ref=Fact|date=April 2008
established=
direction_a=North
direction_b=South
terminus_a=jct|state=SK|Hwy|21 in Leader
terminus_b=jct|state=SK|Hwy|1 near Swift Current
previous_type=Hwy
previous_route=31
next_type=Hwy
next_route=33

Highway 32 is a highway in southwestern Saskatchewan, connecting Leader and Swift Current. It is about 140 km (90 miles) long, connecting several rural communities along the route including Abbey, Cabri, Cantaur and Success.

History

The first travel in this area was by foot, and two wheeled ox cart and horse drawn freight wagon using trails on the sod. The first train arrived in Lancer in 1913. The late 1920s and 1930's saw the automobile arrive to a few families in the area. [Citation
last = Miry Creek Area History Book Committee
first =
author-link =
last2 = Our Roots / Nos Racines University of Calgary, Université Laval
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Bridging the centuries : Shackleton, Abbey, Lancer, Portreeve. Vol. 1
place =
publisher =
year = 1990
location =
volume =
edition =
url =http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=3708666
doi =
id =
isbn = ] Quotation|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.
1. Improvements were made paving:Swift Current to Success 1969-71.
2. Success to Cabri 1972-74
3. Leader to Prelate by Wappell Construction 1986-87.|Our Heritage Recalled : Prelate, Saskatchewan, 1908-1990 [Citation
last = Prelate, Saskatchewan: Prelate History Book Committee,
first =
author-link =
last2 = Our Roots / Nos Racines University of Calgary, Université Laval
first2 =
author2-link =
title = Our Heritage Recalled : Prelate, Saskatchewan, 1908-1990
place =
publisher =
year = 1990
location =
volume =
edition =
url = http://www.ourroots.ca/e/page.aspx?id=1066190
doi =
id =
isbn = ]

Maintenance

The winter of 2000 saw 6.4 resurfaced on this highway. The road west of Cabri to the east of Shackleton was repaired. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = WINTER TENDER SCHEDULE FOR SOUTHERN HIGHWAYS - Government of Saskatchewan
work =
publisher = Government of Saskatchewan
date = November 14, 2000
url = http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=38de30dc-0b58-473a-ad6a-71abe3749050
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

In 2005, 10.1 kilometers were resurfaced. Construction work began at on highway 32 at the entrance to Success and continued west for 10.1 km. Wheel ruts and surface detoriation were levelled and filled and a microsurface treatment was put into place to restore resistance to skidding. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = IMPROVING HIGHWAYS IN WEST CENTRAL SASKATCHEWAN
work =
publisher = Government of Saskatchewan
month = June | year = 2005
url = http://www.gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=38de30dc-0b58-473a-ad6a-71abe3749050
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

The highway has become infamous for its extremely poor condition, which can primarily be attributed to a substandard pavement design (not built for heavy trucks in the mostly agricultural and oil-producing area) and claims of lack of maintenance. The condition of the route is so bad that ambulances are avoiding the route as much as possible. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Saskatchewan's Highway 32: Feature Stories:
work =
publisher = mooseworld inc.
date =
url = http://www.southwesttvnews.com/hwy32.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

On May 17, 2006, Southwest TV News produced a three part series regarding the highway and its road condition. A Letter of Understanding (LOU) was signed by twenty two southwest towns, municipalities and government offices. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Highway 32, the forgotten highway
work = Southwest TV News - Swift Current - Saskatchewan - hwy32
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.southwesttvnews.com/hwy32.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

In 2006, 29 kilometers of highway 32 were converted to a gravel road to alleviate the asphalt surface potholes. Residents lobbying for highway repairs published a "Pothole of the Month" calendar, "I Survived Highway 32" bumper stickers and a billboard was erected on the roadside. [cite web
last = Marshall
first = Aasa
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Hope for Highway 32
work = Prairie Post
publisher = mooseworld inc.
date = November 30, 2007
url = http://www.southwesttvnews.com/hwy32.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] The Leader ambulance travels on another route 1/2 hour longer to the Regional Hospital in Swift Current because of bad road conditions. [cite web
last = Wieler
first = Jordi
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Frustrations over Highway #32 channeled into action
work = Southwest Booster
publisher =mooseworld inc.
date = November 30, 2007
url = http://www.highway32.ca/swb01062006.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

Action Southwest, Area Transportation Planning Council (ATPC),Department of Highways, ,Highway 37 partnership and Highway 32 partnership came together to resolve the transportation problems and it was decided to undertake Quotation|a regional study encompassing the entire southwest and comprising a complete analysis of the full transportation system (air, rail, road) would be the most beneficial to everyone in the region| Action Southwest [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Action Southwest - Transportation Study
work =Action Southwest Business Action coalition
publisher =
date =
url =http://www.actionsouthwest.com/economicdevelopment/highway32.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] Action Southwest has appointed a transportation study steering committee as well as two consulting firms to monitor progress.

"Thin-membrane" highways are secondary routes providing a dust-free surface, but were never engineered for heavy truck traffic. Heavy trucks need to be rerouted to refurbished routes designed for truck traffice said Highways Minister Eldon Lautermilch. Saskatchewan comprises 6,400 kilometres of thin-membrane highway. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Highway network not sustainable, minister says
work =
publisher =CBC
date = June 12, 2006
url =http://www.cbc.ca/canada/saskatchewan/story/2006/06/12/sk-highways060612.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

From the southwest to the northeast of Cabri 14.2 kilometrewas resurfaced in the summer of 2007 a part of Phase I Saskatchewan Highways and Infrastructure's 2008 Tender Release. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =The Southwest Booster: Rural | Highway 32 getting a 14.2 km upgrade
work =The Southwest Booster
publisher =A division of Transcontinental Media Inc.
date = 2007-12-20
url =http://www.swbooster.com/index.cfm?sid=89217&sc=40
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] Highways and Transportation Minister Pat Atkinson allocated $1 million in the spring of 2001. Summer crews re-surfaces 6.5:nbsp;kilometers beginning 5;nbsp;kilometers west of Cabri and further westerly. This repair would now handle heavier truck loads on the route. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =RESURFACING ON HIGHWAY 32 WEST OF CABRI - Government of Saskatchewan
work =
publisher =Government of Saskatchewan
date = February 19, 2001
url =http://gov.sk.ca/news?newsId=ddde4e17-e29f-417d-9d04-2fa6effa0f53&newsPN=Shared
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18]

Communities

The Great Sandhills are located to the south of Highway 32, and the South Saskatchewan river runs to the north of Highway 32. The CPR allocated land along the rail line for the village of Prussia, and soon the RCMP and immigrants arrived to the area. During Word War I, the village was renamed to Leader. Along the highway is the Quotation|Great Sandhills Terminal is a Saskatchewan-based, locally owned rural agri-business operating an inland grain terminal located on highway 32 east of Leader|Government of Saskatchewan Economic News Report for Two Weeks Ending October 6, 2006 [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Government of Saskatchewan Economic News Report for Two Weeks Ending October 6, 2006
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.ei.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=fa19b551-d0e2-488a-bc73-3cf2b4f1aadd
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] . The village of Sceptre hosts The Great Sandhills Museum, metal wheat sculpture, and is the gateway to the great sandhills of Saskatchewan. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Great Sandhills Museum - Sceptre, Saskatchewan, Canada
work =
publisher =
date =
url = http://www.greatsandhillsmuseum.com/
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] Lemsford, [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ghost Towns Canada - Lemsford Saskatchewan
work =
publisher = All Enthusiast, Inc.
year = 2006
url = http://www.ghosttownscanada.ca/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/645
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] Portreeve [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ghost Towns Canada - Portreeve Saskatchewan
work =
publisher = All Enthusiast, Inc.
year = 2006
url = http://www.ghosttownscanada.ca/gallery/showgallery.php/cat/696
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] , Shackleton [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ghost Towns Canada - Shackleton Saskatchewan Ghost Town
work =
publisher = All Enthusiast, Inc.
year = 2006
url = http://www.ghosttownscanada.ca/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/131/cat/548
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] and Battrum [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Ghost Towns Canada - Battrum Saskatchewan Ghost Town
work =
publisher = All Enthusiast, Inc.
year = 2006
url = http://www.ghosttownscanada.ca/gallery/showphoto.php/photo/1674/cat/all/si/battrum
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] are now considered ghost towns of Saskatchewan. The village of Lancer features the Lancer museum which hosts the history of the area, homestead artifacts and a couple of models of the Lancer. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Sask Biz Lancer
work = Community Profiles
publisher = Saskatchewan Government
year = 2006
url = http://www.saskbiz.ca/communityprofiles/CommunityProfile.Asp?CommunityID=575
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] George Jaegli was the sculptor who built the 21&nbspfoot high Chokecherry Cluster at Lancer. Abbey is a village of 130 residents.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Community Profiles
work =Statistics Canada
publisher = Government of Saskatchewan
year = 2006
url = http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census06/data/profiles/community/Index.cfm?
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] The town of Cabri is located at the junction of Highway 32 and Highway 37 and features oversized goose, antelope and wheat sculptures. To the south on the South Saskatchewan River is the Cabri Regional Park. Southwest Saskatchewan is home to Saskatchewan's first oil fields, and the Fosterton Oilfield Museum at Cabri commemorates this history of the area. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Sask Biz Lancer
work = Community Profiles
publisher = Saskatchewan Government
year = 2006
url = http://www.saskbiz.ca/communityprofiles/CommunityProfile.Asp?CommunityID=575
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] The village of Success is home to 40 residents along Highway 32. In 2006, a 5.3 cubic foot gas storage facility was constructed at Cantuar. [cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title =Infrastructure and Marketing
work =
publisher = Husky Energy
year = 2006
url =http://www.huskyenergy.ca/downloads/AboutHusky/Publications/FactSheets/2007_FS_Infrastructure&Marketing.pdf
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2008-01-18] The intersection of Highway 332 is to the south of Cantaur.

ee also

* List of Saskatchewan provincial highways

References

External links

* [http://www.highway32.ca/index.html Highway 32 action site]