The 2025 CAA (Canadian Automobile Association) Worst Roads campaign has once again spotlighted crumbling infrastructure across Ontario, with Aberdeen Avenue and Barton Street East in Hamilton topping the list in the first and second spots, respectively.
The annual campaign, supported by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) as a technical partner, revealed that many of the worst roads have returned from previous years, underscoring the need for increased investment and faster timelines for maintenance and reconstruction.
“Drivers across Ontario are all too aware of poor road upkeep and the negative impact it has on everyone’s ability to get around their community,” said Nadia Todorova, RCCAO’s executive director.
RCCAO continues to call for earlier tendering and standardized regulations to help close Ontario’s infrastructure deficit. Accelerating the tender process allows work to begin earlier in the season, maximizing the construction window and improving long-term road quality.
CAA’s research, based on an online survey in January 2025, found that 85% of Ontarians agreed that short-term inconvenience from roadwork is worthwhile for lasting improvements. The campaign also highlights the role of road maintenance in supporting a safe, efficient movement of people and goods.
This year’s Top 10 worst roads in Ontario are: (1) Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton; (2) Barton Street East, Hamilton; (3) County Road 49, Prince Edward County; (4) Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto; (5) Hurontario Street, Mississauga; (6) Leveque Road, South Frontenac; (7) Highway 50, Caledon (Bolton); (8) Sider Road, Fort Erie; (9) Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto; and (10) Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto.
Regional rankings are the following:
South West (Chatham-Kent, Essex, Lambton Counties):
- Banwell Road, Windsor
- Blackwell Sideroad, Sarnia
- Michigan Avenue, Sarnia
- Riverside Drive, Windsor
- Vidal Street South, Sarnia
Western (Brant, Huron, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth, Waterloo Region):
- Dundas Street, London
- Ira Needles Boulevard, Waterloo
- York Street, London
- York Road, Guelph
- Arthur Street South & Barnswallow Drive, Elmira
Niagara Region:
- Sider Road, Fort Erie
- Portage Road, Niagara Falls
- Miller Road, Port Colborne
- Lundy’s Lane, Niagara Falls
- Facer Street, St. Catharines
Halton-Peel-York-Durham:
- Hurontario Street, Mississauga
- Highway 50, Caledon (Bolton)
- Dundas Street East, Mississauga
- Sandy Beach Road, Pickering
- Walkers Line, Burlington
Central (Bruce, Dufferin, Grey, Muskoka, Simcoe):
- 7th Line, Innisfil
- Huronia Road, Barrie & Brentwood Road, Angus
- Laclie Street, Orillia
- Mary Street, Barrie
- Fraserburg Road, Bracebridge
Eastern (Peterborough, Prince Edward, Stormont, Dundas Counties):
- County Road 49, Prince Edward
- Glen Road, Belleville
- Water Street, Peterborough
- Victoria Road, Prince Edward
- Queen Street, Kingston
Northern (Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound):
- Panache Lake Road, Greater Sudbury
- McNabb Street, Sault Ste. Marie
- Premier Road, North Bay
- Allan Street, Greater Sudbury
- Burton Avenue, Greater Sudbury
Toronto:
- Eglinton Avenue West
- Gardiner Expressway
- Sheppard Avenue West
- Sheppard Avenue East
- Steeles Avenue West
Ottawa:
- Carling Avenue
- Richmond Road
- Bronson Avenue
- Merivale Road
- Hunt Club Road
Hamilton:
- Aberdeen Avenue
- Barton Street East
- Main Street West
- King Street East
- Main Street East
The full list can be found here.
