Eglinton Avenue East falls from top spot of CAA’s Ontario worst roads list
Posted June 3, 2021 8:18 am.
Last Updated June 3, 2021 9:55 am.
The Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) worst roads in Ontario campaign has returned after a pandemic break, and Eglinton Avenue East in Toronto has been bumped out of the top spot.
Eglinton Avenue made this year’s Top 10 list twice. Eglinton Avenue East was in the top spot in 2019 but has now fallen to number five on the list, while Eglinton Avenue West is in the seventh spot.
The worst road this year belongs to Victoria Road in Prince Edward County, which is the first time it has made the list.
This year’s Top 10 list is very different compared to previous years. The CAA paused its campaign in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has seen people switch to working remotely.
CAA spokesperson Raymond Chan said they’re seeing different streets voted in. Seven roads that made the Top 10 list in 2019 aren’t on the list this year.
“We think that’s largely due to a decrease in the volume of traffic. People simply just aren’t out there travelling the roads as much as they normally would and we’re seeing that localized community effect a lot more reflected on the Top 10 list,” Chan said.
However, Chan said the CAA is anticipating a return to pre-pandemic traffic patterns.
“As people start that regular commute back to either school or work, that there is going to be increase wear and tear in our roadways but also a heightened awareness about what some of the localized surroundings are,” Chan said.
“Once these traffic patterns normalize themselves … we are going to see a bit of an uptick and a change. I’m confident that next year we’re going to see a lot more GTA roads on the Top 10 list.”
The ultimate goal of the worst roads list is to get municipal and provincials governments to fix the problematic roads.
Ontario’s Top 10 worst roads for 2021:
- Victoria Road, Prince Edward County
- Carling Avenue, Ottawa
- Barton Street East, Hamilton
- County Road 49, Prince Edward County
- Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto
- Hunt Club Road, Ottawa
- Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
- Innes Road, Ottawa
- Algonquin Boulevard West, Timmins
- Queen Street, Kingston
