Drummond, McLeod roads ranked worst
While Drummond Road topped CAA Niagara’s list of the worst roads in the region, the Niagara Falls artery has plenty of company when it comes potholes and crumbing pavement.
CAA released the results of its 15th annual Worst Roads campaign Monday, putting the 10 bumpiest stretches of pavement in Niagara under a dubious spotlight.
The worst three of Niagara’s roads also made it onto Ontario’s top 10 worst roads list — Drummond and McLeod roads in Niagara Falls, and Pelham Road in St. Catharines — in sixth, eighth and ninth place, respectively.
Niagara Falls municipal works director Geoff Holman said Drummond Road is awaiting designs for watermain and sanitary sewer replacement, and should have a fresh coat of asphalt added in the spring of 2019.
Meanwhile, Holman said, there is some work underway on McLeod Road this year, too.
“I would like to get the descriptions of these roads because McLeod Road is partially under the Region’s jurisdiction and there is a potion that’s under the city’s jurisdiction.”
In St. Catharines, transportation and environmental services director Dan Dillon said work is scheduled this year on Pelham Road, resurfacing the third worst on the local top 10 list, from Glendale Avenue to Kent Street.
“That’ll take care of probably where most of the concern is,” he said. “I think that part of the road’s in fairly rough shape.”
The CAA list, he added, “helps validate what we’re doing as well.”
“It’s helping us to ensure we’re doing work on roads that matter for people. But it doesn’t give you a complete picture because it’s going to focus on major arterial roads that most people drive on.”
Niagara voting in the fourweek Worst Roads campaign rose more than 50 per cent from last year, according to CAA officials.
Ninety-four per cent of Niagara voters reported potholes and crumbling pavement as the reason for selecting a road.
There was also a 10 per cent rise in votes from cyclists and pedestrians citing lack of sidewalk and cycling infrastructure.