Route 132 is a highway

Highway

A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...

 in the town of Barnstable, Massachusetts

Barnstable, Massachusetts

Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...

, part of Cape Cod

Cape Cod

Cape Cod, often referred to locally as simply the Cape, is a cape in the easternmost portion of the state of Massachusetts, in the Northeastern United States...

. The entire length of the highway is also locally signed as part of Iyannough Road. Route 132 is the main link between greater Barnstable

Barnstable, Massachusetts

Barnstable is a city, referred to as the Town of Barnstable, in the U.S. state of Massachusetts and the county seat of Barnstable County. Barnstable is the largest community, both in land area and population, on Cape Cod. The town contains seven villages within its boundaries...

 and the village of Hyannis

Hyannis, Massachusetts

Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...

, in fact, all of Route 132 lies within the Barnstable city limits, and connects Routes 28 and 6A via an almost straight northwest-southeast course.

Route description

The southern terminus is at the Airport

Barnstable Municipal Airport

Barnstable Municipal Airport , also known as Boardman/Polando Field, is a public airport located on Cape Cod, one mile north of the central business district of Hyannis, in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States. This airport is publicly owned by Town of Barnstable...

 Rotary

Roundabout

A roundabout is the name for a road junction in which traffic moves in one direction around a central island. The word dates from the early 20th century. Roundabouts are common in many countries around the world...

 in Hyannis

Hyannis, Massachusetts

Hyannis is the largest of seven villages in Barnstable, Massachusetts. Also it is the commercial and transportation hub of Cape Cod and was designated an urban area as a result of the 1990 census. Because of this, many refer to Hyannis as the "Capital of the Cape"...

, at the intersection of Route 28. Iyanough Road itself begins further east on Route 28 at the Barnstable/Yarmouth

Yarmouth, Massachusetts

Yarmouth is a New England town in Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States, Barnstable County being coextensive with Cape Cod. The population was 24,807 at the 2000 census....

 border. The southernmost mile contains an immense number of malls

Shopping mall

A shopping mall, shopping centre, shopping arcade, shopping precinct or simply mall is one or more buildings forming a complex of shops representing merchandisers, with interconnecting walkways enabling visitors to easily walk from unit to unit, along with a parking area — a modern, indoor version...

 and other large shopping centers along the route, such as the Christmas Tree Shops

Christmas Tree Shops

Christmas Tree Shops are a retail chain that started in Yarmouth Port, Massachusetts on Cape Cod in 1970 as a complex of three small stores; the Front Shop, the Back Shop, and the Barn Shop. The multiple store location, which was located on Route 6A, explains why the name is Christmas Tree Shops...

 Plaza, Cape Cod Mall

Cape Cod Mall

Cape Cod Mall is a regional shopping mall located in Hyannis, Massachusetts, United States. Its anchor stores are Barnes & Noble, Best Buy, Sears, Marshalls, Macy's and Macy's women's/accessories store. In addition, the mall features a food court and a twelve screen, stadium style movie theater....

, the Capetown (K-Mart) Plaza, the Independence Plaza, and the Festival In Hyannis shopping center. Other restaurants, hotels, car dealerships, and strip mall

Strip mall

A strip mall is an open-area shopping center where the stores are arranged in a row, with a sidewalk in front. Strip malls are typically developed as a unit and have large parking lots in front...

s dot the road densely until the intersection with Phinney's Lane. At Mile 3.0, it crosses underneath Route 6 at Exit 6 (mile 68 of the freeway). Cape Cod's only freeway service plaza

Rest area

A rest area, travel plaza, rest stop, or service area is a public facility, located next to a large thoroughfare such as a highway, expressway, or freeway at which drivers and passengers can rest, eat, or refuel without exiting on to secondary roads...

 is at this intersection. North of the intersection is Cape Cod Community College

Cape Cod Community College

Cape Cod Community College, known locally as "4-C's", is a two-year community college located in West Barnstable, Massachusetts. Cape Cod Community College was established in 1961, the second institution to open as part of what is now a 15 community college system in Massachusetts...

. The northern terminus of Route 132 is at Route 6A in the village of West Barnstable

West Barnstable, Massachusetts

West Barnstable is a village or section in the northwest part of the City of Barnstable, Massachusetts. Once devoted to agricultural pursuits, West Barnstable now is largely residential.-Natural features:...

.

Traffic

Route 132 is notorious for its heavy traffic, especially during summer months. Originally 2 lanes on its entire length when first built, development has necessitated about half of the road's length to be widened to 4 lanes, with another stretch (between Phinney's Lane and US 6) constructed as a divided highway. Part of the original Route 132 was bypassed around Phinney's Lane in the 1960s to straighten out the road and keep traffic moving at a reasonable pace. Locally, the old section is simply known as "Old Route 132 Road" (and is named Old Route 132), and is officially designated as part of Attucks Lane by the city of Barnstable. Some of the old road can be seen after Route 6 when heading east. The old road grade is on the right and it currently being used as a staging area for construction equipment.