Roads in Hamilton, Toronto and Prince Edward County topped the Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) annual list of the worst roads in Ontario.
Residents vote for the worst roads, usually citing potholes, poor maintenance and poor cycling infrastructure. Cyclists and pedestrians make up approximately a quarter of the electorate. The CAA then worked with the Ontario Road Builders Association to review the list.
“We provide a forum for engagement because people don’t know how to communicate locally about the frustrations they experience,” said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations at the South Central Branch of the CAA in Ontario. told CBC Hamilton.
Barton Street East in Hamilton was listed as the worst road in Ontario, ahead of Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto, Barker Street in Prince Edward County.
Four of the 10 worst roads, including Eglinton Avenue West, were in Toronto.
Carling Avenue and Bronson Avenue in Ottawa, as well as Queen Street in Kingston were also on the list.
Here is the full list:
- Barton Street East in Hamilton.
- Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto.
- Barker Street in Prince Edward County.
- County Road 49 in Prince Edward County.
- Carling Avenue in Ottawa.
- Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto.
- Lake Shore East Boulevard in Toronto.N.
- Finch Avenue West in Toronto.
- Bronson Avenue in Ottawa.
- Queen Street in Kingston.
The CAA also has regional lists. In Ontario, 182 municipalities have designated roads in their communities.
CAA spokeswoman Caitlin First said in an email that “investing in all road infrastructure is important when it comes to building good roads, whether it’s road improvements, cycling infrastructure, signs or pedestrian infrastructure.”
Teresa Di Felice is Assistant Vice President of Government and Community Relations at the South Central Branch of the CAA in Ontario. (Bobby Hristova / CBC)
Di Felice said it was also important for senior government officials to provide funding to municipalities such as gas tax revenues instead of cities, which raise property taxes.
She added that previous CAA research has shown that investing a dollar in pavement conservation could avoid the city paying six to $ 10 later to solve problems.
What did voters say about the worst roads?
Barton Street in Hamilton was named the fifth worst road in 2019 and the third worst road in 2021.
“The extremes of Barton Street East and the frustration of Hamiltonans and those traveling through Hamilton definitely catapulted Barton Street East to the top,” Di Felice said.
“This alligator cracks, really bad surface. I don’t even think you can avoid a hole anymore, there’s no more turning.”
Cracks can be seen on Barton Street East near Earl Street. (Bobby Hristova / CBC)
Furse said the street was voted the worst road in the city for the third year in a row.
She also said voters had chosen Barton and Parkdale Avenue North as the worst intersection.
City spokeswoman Emily Trotta said Barton Street East was on the city’s radar, saying “it will continue to be a priority as it moves forward with renovation and reconstruction projects.”
She said $ 7.5 million would be done over the next two years to renovate the street and sidewalks, create pedestrian intersections and a multi-purpose street walkway between Parkdale Avenue and Talbot Street.
“Other segments of Barton, including between Wentworth and Sherman, Sherman and Ottawa and Ottawa and Kenilworth, will be a priority for planned improvements in the coming years, and working hours will be determined in 2023 as part of the capital budget review.”
The city has also initiated a municipal-class environmental assessment process for improvements on Barton Street East, but Di Felice said it will take until 2025 to begin a detailed street project.
Among the worst roads in Toronto, Fears said the entire Eglinton Avenue “is a concern – largely due to crumbling pavements and potholes.” She also said many of the challenges could be solved once the Eglinton Crosstown project is completed.
Di Felice also said the road surface and congestion were also complaints from voters.
First said Prince Edward County’s Barker Street is the number one in the Eastern Region. She said voters were noticing “potholes, poor road maintenance and poor pedestrian infrastructure”.
Di Felice notes that last year Victoria Road in Prince Edward County was at the top of the list after residents put up signs asking people to vote for him.
Hamilton tops the list amid a series of pedestrian deaths
The five worst roads in Hamilton were Barton Street East, Aberdeen Avenue, Burlington Street East (Ontario’s worst road for 2017 and 2018 according to the CAA), Upper James Street and Rymal Road East.
Barton Street East tops the provincial CAA list comes amid a series of pedestrian deaths from clashes in Hamilton this year.
Eleven pedestrians have died in the city since January. Nine of them were on the city streets, prompting the city council to consider returning the main street to two-way traffic.
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