Burlington Street voted worst road in Ontario again

For two years running the now infamous Hamilton road is singled out by drivers

BURLINGTON STREET

East has once again been voted the worst road in Ontario, according to the Canadian Automobile Association.

However, the city says relief is on the way, with significant repaving work expected to begin later this year into early next year.

This is the second consecutive year the north-Hamilton corridor has been voted the worst by drivers, cyclists and pedestrians out of more than 3,500 roads nominated across the province.

Burlington Street East also has the dubious honour of appearing in the annual list’s top 10 more times than any other street since it first appeared in 2009.

Coun. Sam Merulla, whose Ward 4 includes part of Burlington Street East, said repairing the road “clearly has been a priority.”

This includes the city spending “millions in the last 10 years” and planned resurfacing work.

There is $3.3 million in resurfacing work scheduled for 2018-2019 on the lower part of Burlington Street, including eastbound Sherman to Gage avenues, Ottawa Street to Kenilworth Avenue, Tire Street to the Ministry of Transportation limits, and westbound Kenilworth to Wilcox Street.

“The 2018-2019 work will take care of most of what people are complain-

ing about ... so mission accomplished,” Merulla said.

Since 2009 the city has cleaned and inspected 22 kilometres of sewer, repaired under the bridge between Ottawa and Kenilworth, resurfaced Burlington between Ferguson and Victoria, and conducted water main replacement and sewer lining construction

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The 2018-2019 work will take care of most of what people are complaining about. COUN. SAM MERULLA

between Gage and Ottawa.

“Over recent years, City of Hamilton staff have been assessing, designing, co-ordinating projects, and rehabilitating the needs of the Burlington Street corridor,” said city spokesperson Jasmine Graham.

There is also about $30 million in resurfacing and reconstruction work planned between now and 2027, pending approval of capital budgets.

“It’s clear from the results of this year’s CAA Worst Roads campaign, that there are several roads that continue to be an issue

for the public despite appearing on the list many times,” Raymond Chan, government relations specialist, CAA South Central Ontario said in a release.

No other Hamilton street made the top 10, but locally the other worst-rated roads after Burlington Street East included Barton Street East, Main Street West, Nikola Tesla Boulevard and Scenic Drive.

SCOTT GARDNER THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR Burlington Street East first appeared on the CAA Worst Roads list in 2009.

SCOTT GARDNER THE HAMILTON SPECTATOR For the second year in a row, Burlington Street East in Hamilton has been voted the worst road in the province in a CAA poll.

JOHN RENNISON HAMILTON SPECTATOR FILE PHOTO An old pothole on Burlington Street near Birch is seen in this file photo. Burlington Street East has the dubious honour of appearing in the annual top 10 Worst Roads more times than any other street.