Hamilton's Burlington Street East voted Ontario's Worst Road

Burlington Street East has appeared on CAA's Top 10 list more than any other road in campaign history, and returns as the #1 road in Ontario for the second consecutive year

TORONTO, June 4, 2018 /CNW/ - The votes are in, and Ontario's Worst Road for 2018 is Burlington Street East in Hamilton for the second consecutive year.

Taking the second and third place spots on CAA's annual provincial list are County Road 49 in Prince Edward County and Duckworth Street in Barrie. Eglinton Avenue West, tops the list of CAA Worst Roads in Toronto this year, followed by Dufferin Street, Yonge Street, Eglinton Avenue East, and Steeles Avenue East.

Burlington Street East has appeared on CAA’s Top 10 list more than any other road in campaign history, and returns as the #1 road in Ontario for the second consecutive year. (CNW Group/CAA South Central Ontario)

"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," said Raymond Chan, government relations specialist, CAA South Central Ontario. "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."

Burlington Street East has risen progressively higher up the top 10 list since it first appeared on the CAA Worst Roads list in 2009. Dufferin Street has made nine appearances on the provincial top 10 list since the campaign's inception. Carling Avenue, in Ottawa, and County Road 49 have also appeared on the list multiple times in the past.

Emerging roads this year include Eglinton Avenue West, which holds the top spot in Toronto and sits at number five on the provincial list. Eglinton Avenue East ranks fourth in Toronto, so the entirety of this road is of concern – largely due to crumbling pavement and potholes. This is likely related to the fact that Eglinton Avenue is undergoing one of the largest transit expansions in North America, which has significantly impacted road conditions during construction.

Duckworth Street, in Barrie, appeared on the list last year and is #3 on the provincial list for 2018, along with holding #1 position in the Central region. Steeles Avenue has reemerged to take the number five spot on the Toronto list after dropping off the list in 2009. It was voted as a CAA Worst Road in 2003 and from 2005-2009.

Over 3,500 roads were nominated from across the province this year, the highest number since the campaign's inception. Drivers accounted for over three-quarters of the votes cast, while roughly 9 per cent of votes were from cyclists and a further 9 per cent were from pedestrians.

In terms of the primary reason for selecting their road: 75 per cent cited potholes, 14 per cent highlighted limited or no cycling infrastructure, and 10 per cent chose congestion as their primary issue.

Ontario's Top 10 Worst Roads for 2018

1. Burlington Street East (Hamilton)
   
2. County Road 49 (Prince Edward County)
   
3. Duckworth Street (Barrie)
   
4. Avondale Road (Belleville)
   
5. Eglinton Avenue West (Toronto)
   
6. Drummond Road (Niagara Falls)
   
7. Dufferin Street (Toronto)
   
8. McLeod Road (Niagara Falls)
   
9. Pelham Road (St. Catharines)
   
10. Lockhart Road (Innisfil)

Worst Roads by Region

• Central – Duckworth Street (Barrie)
• Eastern – County Road 49 (Prince Edward County) 
• Halton-Peel-York-Durham – Speers Road (Oakville) 
• Niagara – Drummond Road (Niagara Falls) 
• North – Letts Cemetery Road (Eganville) 
• South West – Highway 401 (Chatham-Kent)
• Western – Ontario 6 (Caledonia)

The CAA Worst Roads campaign is a platform for Ontarians to make roads safer by helping municipal and provincial governments understand what roadway improvements are important to citizens, and where they need to be made.

For the full list of 2018 Worst Roads, please visit caaworstroads.com.

About CAA South Central Ontario
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 over 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

Nadia Matos, PR Specialist, P: [phone], C: [phone], E: [email protected]; Kaitlynn Furse, PR Manager, P: [phone], C: [phone], E: [email protected]