Hamilton's Burlington Street East is 'Ontario's worst road': CAA

Hamilton has earned the dubious honour of being home to the province's worst road, according to a poll released Thursday by the Canadian Automobile Association.

For the first time Burlington Street East has topped theCAA'sannual list ofOntario's Top 10 Worst Roads, although it has made an appearance in the rankings every year since 2009.

"A road appearing on the list for this many years is really a reflection that this is one that is a pain point for many people,"said Elliott Silverstein, government relations manager for CAA Southern Ontario.

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"Itprovides a snapshot for people travelling in and around the Hamilton areathat this is an area that really needs some attention and repairs."

Thousands of roads across the provinceare nominated for the CAA campaign each year, with tens of thousandsOntariansweighing in about the state of infrastructure affectingdrivers, pedestrians and cyclists over a voting period of about three weeks.

CAA then tabulates the results, in conjunction with the Ontario Road Builders' Association, to determine theroads that deserve the most attention for the year.

Burlington Street East was at number six on last year's list, and number seven in 2015. In 2014, the road was fifth, and in 2013, second worst.

"The biggest challenge we've heard is the crumbling infrastructure the potholes, the bumpy roads, the patches," said Silverstein. "At the end of the day, it's a safety issue. Whether you're a cyclist, pedestrianor motorist, if you experience some of these road conditions, you face making split-second decisions and having to navigate through those."

On the region-specific list, Hamilton's top five worst roads also includedBarton Street East,Main Street West,Upper James Street, and for the first time, NikolaTesla Boulevard proving that things on Burlington St. E. are so bad, it has essentiallybeen nominated twice.

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"What we have seen with roads that appeared on the list in previous years, is that municipalities push a call to action for infrastructure funding, or they re-prioritizesome of their capital expenditures to really put these at the front of the list," said Silverstein.

"What we hope with thisis that it actually sends a message that this is a struggle for many people in the community andhopefully in the coming years we will see it move down the list, and then off the list."

Paul Miller, MPP Hamilton East-Stoney Creek, said in a statement that the list highlighted where infrastructure spending was most needed.

"I hope that CAA's spotlight will spur some much-needed improvement on Burlington Street East and the many other Hamilton roads that require immediate attention," saidMiller.

"We must invest in the repair and maintenance of our existing infrastructure as well as in building new transport connections. People depend on this road to be safe."

Ontario'sTop 10 Worst Roads for 2017

1. Burlington Street East (Hamilton)
2. Dufferin Street (Toronto)
3. Lorne Street (Sudbury)
4. Maley Drive (Sudbury)
5. Queenston Street (St. Catharines)
6. Algonquin Boulevard West (Timmins)
7. Hunt Club Road (Ottawa)
8. TIE Carling Avenue (Ottawa) AND Duckworth Street (Barrie)
9. TIE Algonquin Boulevard East (Timmins) AND Yonge Street (Toronto)
10. County Road 49 (Prince Edward County)

Hamilton's Worst Roads 2017

1. Burlington Street East
2. Barton Street East
3. Main Street West
4. Nikola Tesla Boulevard
5. Upper James Street