Potholes and severe alligator cracking elevated the thoroughfare from third place last year to the top spot on CAA’s annual list for 2022. Photo credit: Global News
Earlier this week, the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) released its annual list of Ontario’s worst roads.
Topping the 2022 index was Hamilton’s Barton Street East, which runs parallel to Lake Ontario from the Red Hill Valley Parkway in the south through the heart of the city’s urban centre to James Street North.
The thoroughfare made its provincial top 10 debut on the worst roads list in 2019, climbing to third place in 2021. It earned this year’s top spot “due to potholes and severe alligator cracking in the pavement.”
Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto finished second, while Barker Street in Prince Edward County rounded out the top three.
“We know the campaign works. People vote in the annual CAA Worst Roads Campaign because it gives Ontarians a platform to continue putting pressure on various levels of government to understand what roads they believe are in urgent need of repair,” said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president, government and community relations at CAA South Central Ontario.
“The campaign has been able to demonstrate that decision-makers are paying attention to the results, which has prompted municipal officials to move up infrastructure projects in their communities.”
A total of 182 municipalities had roads in their communities nominated. Drivers accounted for the majority of votes cast, with cyclists and pedestrians accounting for about a quarter of the votes.
In terms of primary reasons for selecting a certain road, 80 per cent of respondents cited potholes, 71 per cent cited poor road maintenance, and 29 per cent cited no or poor cycling infrastructure.
“The results this year show us that Ontarians are relentless in using the campaign to advocate for roads they believe are in urgent need of repair,” said Di Felice, “which is why we have seen Barton Street bubble up to the top spot and roads like Eglinton Avenue continue to garner attention.”
Barton Street East isn’t the first Hamilton road to be named the province’s worst paved pathway since CAA launched its campaign in 2003.
Burlington Street East was named Ontario’s worst road two years in a row in 2018 and 2019.
Each year, the top 10 list is verified by the Ontario Road Builders’ Association (ORBA).
“This year’s Worst Roads campaign once again solidified the fact that although much work has been done across the province to maintain and repair Ontario’s roads, greater investment is needed to tackle the staggering municipal infrastructure deficit in Ontario,” said Bryan Hocking, ORBA CEO.
“Building and maintaining infrastructure is a critical part of Ontario’s long-term economic plan, and even more important to our economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. We must begin to build the necessary infrastructure today so we can be ready to meet the challenges of tomorrow.”
Ontario’s Top 10 Worst Roads for 2022:
- Barton Street East, Hamilton
2. Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
3. Barker Street, Prince Edward County
4. County Road 49, Prince Edward County
5. Carling Avenue, Ottawa
6. Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto
7. Lake Shore Boulevard East, Toronto
8. Finch Avenue West, Toronto
9. Bronson Avenue, Ottawa
10. Queen Street, Kingston
