Maintenance
The winter of 2000 saw 6.4 resurfaced on this highway. The road west of Cabri to the east of Shackleton was repaired.
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.
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.
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.
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. The Leader ambulance travels on another route 1/2 hour longer to the Regional Hospital in Swift Current because of bad road conditions.
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
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
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.
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.
Highways and Transportation Minister Pat Atkinson allocated $1 million in the spring of 2001. Summer crews re-surfaces 6.5 kilometers beginning 5 kilometers west of Cabri and further westerly. This repair would now handle heavier truck loads on the route.
At a cost of $31,8 million, the 56 km stretch of the Highway between Shackleton and Prelate was upgraded from thin membrane surface (TMS) road to a fully structural paved road designed for full regular highway traffic. This work started on May 4, 2009 and was completed on October 13, 2010.
Read more about this topic: Saskatchewan Highway 32
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