Here it is: The ten worst roads in South Central Ontario
It's a top ten list that you'd rather keep your name off of.
CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) has wrapped its annual worst roads campaign, and last year’s top offender has re-offended in 2023.
Barton Street East in Hamilton has taken the top spot for the second year in a row.
It turns out motorists aren't fond of crumbling pavement and roadways littered with potholes - the main reasons this street was voted the worst, but several of the roads on the list share these characteristics.
Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of government and community relations at CAA SCO, tells The Weather Network Barton Street East has what's called "alligator pavements," which are cracked and riddled with holes, leading to a bumpy ride.
She says the past two winters brought a series of freeze-thaw cycles that contributed to Barton's pothole problem.
After last year's nomination, Hamilton city crews started to fix the problem, but they have a long road ahead.
Each year, CAA asks Ontario drivers, cyclists, transit riders, and pedestrians to vote in the campaign.
"Voting for Ontario's worst roads helps shine the spotlight on where more work is needed," CAA says on its website.
"Your feedback helps us start a dialogue with the government to help pave the way for safer roads across Ontario."
Potholes and Cracked Pavement Keep Barton Street East in the Top Spot on the provincial CAA Worst Roads List. (CAA SCO).
The top ten
Here's a full breakdown of the area's worst roads. Streets with an asterisk beside them are new to the list this year.
Barton St East, Hamilton
Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
County Road 49, Prince Edward
Carling Avenue, Ottawa
Finch Avenue West, Toronto
Laclie Street, Orillia*
Steeles Avenue East, Toronto*
Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton*
Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto
Hurontario Street, Mississauga*
In addition to potholes and cracking pavement, insufficient cycling, and pedestrian infrastructure are other attributes that will land a road on this list.
"Third on the list in almost most, if not all, of the top 10 roads is traffic congestion," Di Felice says.
CAA has an advocacy team that communicates with the municipalities with roads on the list and highlights the issues identified by residents. Di Felice says they try to support those communities by advocating for increased funding from senior levels of government.
Thumbnail image - file photo/Getty Images.
