Four Toronto streets crack CAA’s top 10 worst roads in Ontario. Here’s the list

The CAA has released its annual list of worst roads in Ontario, and Toronto streets make up almost half the list. As Tina Yazdani reports, advocates are calling for more provincial and federal funding to address the state-of-good-repair.

By Lucas Casaletto

Posted May 30, 2023 6:15 am.

Last Updated May 30, 2023 6:58 pm.

Four well-known Toronto streets have cracked this year’s lamentable top 10 worst roads in Ontario, according to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).

The CAA’s backgrounder, aptly titled 20 Years of Worst Roads, is described as “a platform for Ontarians to make our roads safer by helping different levels of government understand what roadway improvements are important to citizens and where they need to be made.”

Eglinton Avenue in Toronto ranked among the worst roads in Ontario

Eglinton Avenue West in Toronto is ranked among the Top 10 CAA Worst Roads in Ontario. CITYNEWS/Bert Dandy

Barton Street East in Hamilton, Ont., was marked as the worst road in 2023, while Toronto had the most provincial streets (four) on the top 10 list.

The Top 10 CAA Worst Roads in Ontario:

1. Barton Street East, Hamilton
2. Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
3. County Road 49, Prince Edward County
4. Carling Avenue, Ottawa
5. Finch Avenue West, Toronto
6. Laclie Street, Orillia
7. Steeles Avenue East, Toronto
8. Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton
9. Lakeshore Boulevard East, Toronto
10. Hurontario Street, Mississauga

The Hamilton, Ont. road first appeared on the CAA’s top 10 list in 2019 and has climbed to the top for the second year in a row.

A CAA spokesperson explained why it was ultimately regarded as the worst road in the province.

Four well-known Toronto streets have cracked this year’s lamentable top 10 worst roads in Ontario, according to the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). Photo: CAA.

“Barton Street’s persistent issues with potholes and severe alligator cracking in the pavement have led to its dubious distinction,” the CAA said in a news release.

Four new roads have debuted on this year’s top 10 list, including Laclie Street in Orillia, Steeles Avenue East in Toronto, Aberdeen Avenue in Hamilton and Hurontario Street in Mississauga.

The CAA says many of the nominated roads have undergone or are undergoing significant improvements. A spokesperson with the city alluded to that, too.

“In 2023, the city has budgeted approximately $426 million to rehabilitate and improve Toronto’s transportation infrastructure,” they said.

“Additionally, the City has dedicated $4.6 million this year for its comprehensive pothole repair program that so far has seen the repair of more than 88,000 potholes across the city.”