Hamilton road worst in Ontario

For the second consecutive year, Hamilton’s Burlington St. E. has been voted the worst road in the province, says the Canadian Automobile Association.

In a survey of thousands of drivers, cyclists and pedestrians across Ontario, a majority voted for the road, located along Lake Ontario.

“It’s clear from the results of this year’s worst roads campaign, that there are several roads that continue to be an issue for the public despite appearing on the list many times,” said Raymond Chan, CAA South Central Ontario government relations specialist.

“There are also some roads that seem to be emerging as new challenges for road users, and so we will be encouraging decision-makers to look at these roads before issues become persistent.”

In Toronto, Eglinton Ave. W. was voted the city’s worst, followed by Dufferin St. — which were ranked fifth and seventh on the Ontario-wide list, respectively — Yonge St., Eglinton Ave. E., and Steeles Ave. E., respectively. Most are located in the north end of the GTA.

“The entirety of (Eglinton Ave.) is of concern — largely due to crumbling pavement and potholes,” a statement from the CAA said.

More than 3,500 nominations were received by the CAA, the highest since the campaign began 15 years ago. Drivers represented three-quarters of the votes, cyclists 9 per cent, and pedestrians a further 9 per cent.

When asked about their primary reason for their vote, 75 per cent of respondents cited potholes, 14 per cent emphasized limited or no cycling infrastructure, and 10 per cent highlighted congestion.

Other roads in the top 10 include ones in Prince Edward County, Barrie, Belleville, Niagara Falls and St. Catharine’s.

The CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club that represents more than 2 million members in the province, and advocates for road safety.