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

Canadian Automobile Association

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, ON – June 4, 2018

Ontario motorists will have a new option to help manage auto insurance premiums, thanks to a new, first-in-Canada payment program announced today by CAA Insurance Company.
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. “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 lists 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)