en.Wedoany.com Reported - A roughly 4-kilometer stretch of Barton Street East in Hamilton (between Victoria Avenue North and Kenilworth Avenue North), plagued by severe potholes, has been named Ontario's worst road for the third time in the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) annual ranking, prompting the city to launch a repaving project.
Brian Hollingworth, Hamilton's Director of Engineering, stated that safe and reliable roads are crucial for residents' daily lives, commercial activities, and the movement of people and goods. Residents have consistently prioritized road conditions and infrastructure renewal. To this end, the city plans to invest over $150 million CAD in 2026 for active transportation, growth-related infrastructure, rehabilitation, and road repaving projects. Of this total investment, more than $106 million CAD will be specifically allocated to renewing and replacing existing roads, bridges, and sidewalks, as part of the city's broader $622 million CAD infrastructure plan.
The City of Hamilton has awarded a $3.64 million CAD contract for the Barton Street repaving project to GIP Paving Inc. This work stems from the city's rapid pothole patching initiative launched in May, which covered sections of Barton Street East but was not a permanent solution. Hollingworth noted that the repaving aims to improve the road surface and driving performance until a full reconstruction project begins in five years. Repaving is expected to start in the coming weeks and is scheduled for completion by late summer 2026, barring unforeseen circumstances or weather-related delays.
One of the goals of the CAA's annual Worst Roads campaign is to spark dialogue with municipal and provincial governments and prioritize infrastructure improvements. Brian Pirvu, Government Relations Consultant for CAA South Central Ontario, said the campaign gives Ontarians a voice, helping draw attention to roads most in need of care and driving government investment to keep communities safe and moving.
The 2026 list, based on nominations submitted by Ontarians, reflects feedback from thousands of drivers, providing decision-makers with a snapshot of public priorities. Road users commonly cited potholes, poor maintenance, and uneven surfaces as major issues affecting safety and mobility. Pirvu emphasized that reliable infrastructure is about safety, affordability, and quality of life, and investing in roads helps reduce repair costs for drivers and ensures people can travel safely.
The top 10 worst roads in Ontario for 2026 are as follows:
1. Barton Street East, Hamilton
2. Hurontario Street, Mississauga
3. Notre Dame Avenue, Greater Sudbury
4. Sider Road, Fort Erie
5. Steeles Avenue East, Toronto
6. Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto
7. Panache Lake Road, Greater Sudbury
8. Bathurst Street, Toronto
9. Unwin Avenue, Toronto
10. 6th Line, Innisfil
Nadia Todorova, Executive Director of the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario, added that people across Ontario have spoken up, and the CAA Worst Roads campaign gives residents a voice—those who personally experience the impact of deteriorating roads and aging infrastructure on daily life.
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