Algonquin Boulevard tops Ontario's Worst Roads list

CAA's annual campaign sees a 26 per cent increase in participation

TORONTO, May 21, 2015 /CNW/ - Algonquin Boulevard in Timmins has bumped Dufferin Street in Toronto to third place on CAA's Top 10 Worst Roads list in Ontario. Dufferin Street had held the top spot for the last three years (2012, 2013, and 2014).

"We are pleased to see the City of Toronto has begun road resurfacing along Dufferin Street. Although Dufferin and the City were bumped from the top spot by focused efforts in some communities, just over 300 roads in the City of Toronto were nominated, demonstrating the need for Council to keep infrastructure as a top priority," said Caroline Grech, Government Relations, CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO).

Three of the roads on the 2015 list are from Timmins while another three are from the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA). This year's campaign saw the residents of Timmins come together and support a call from the Mayor to vote for their roads.

"I am thankful to the residents of Timmins who rallied together with my support to ensure our provincial connecting link roads finished in the Top 10," said Timmins Mayor Steve Black.
The 2015 campaign also saw a 26 per cent increase in votes highlighting that the condition of the roads across the province are on the minds of many Ontarians. Of the roads on this year's Top 10 list, 90 per cent of participants said that potholes and crumbling pavement were the reason why they voted. Other factors that voters across Ontario cited include traffic congestion, timing of traffic lights, and pedestrian access.

To highlight the success of CAA's Worst Roads campaign this year, CAA has released an infograph produced by MediaMiser, a leading provider of media monitoring and analysis solutions, illustrating key facts and statistics.

Ontario's Top 10 Worst Roads for 2015:

1. Algonquin Blvd. W., Timmins
2. Algonquin Blvd. E., Timmins
3. Dufferin Street, Toronto
4. Highway 144, Greater Sudbury
5. Carling Ave., Ottawa
6. Radical Rd., Port Dover
7. Burlington St. E., Hamilton
8. Riverside Dr., Timmins
9. Dominion Rd., Fort Erie
10. Bayview Ave., Toronto

New this year, CAA compiled a list of the worst roads in seven regions across Ontario.

#1 Worst Road by Region:

North Region – Algonquin Blvd. W., Timmins
Halton-Peel-York-Durham – Bloor St. E., Oshawa
Niagara Region – Dominion Rd., Fort Erie
Eastern Region – Limoges Rd., Limoges
Central Region – Morrow Rd., Barrie
Western Region – Radical Rd., Port Dover
South West Region – Tecumseh Rd. E., Windsor

For a full Top 5 list of the worst roads in a region, including Top 5 lists for Toronto, Hamilton, and Ottawa, visit caaworstroads.com. CAA will present the list and make recommendations to both the provincial and municipal governments.

As a leader and advocate for road safety and mobility, CAA South Central Ontario is a not-for-profit auto club which represents the interests of 2 million members. For over a century, CAA has collaborated with communities, police services and governments to help keep drivers and their families safe while travelling on our roads.

SOURCE CAA South Central Ontario

For further information: Media contact: Silvana Aceto, Media and PR Consultant, CAA SCO, [e-mail], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]; or Jeff LeMoine, Communications Consultant, CAA SCO, [e-mail], Office: [phone], Cell: [phone]