Motorists across Ontario have once again identified deteriorating road conditions as a major concern, with four Toronto streets earning spots among the province’s ten worst roads in the latest rankings released by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA).
The annual Worst Roads Campaign, which invites residents to nominate and vote for roads they believe require urgent attention, named Barton Street East in Hamilton as Ontario’s worst road for 2026. The roadway has consistently appeared on previous lists due to ongoing concerns about potholes, uneven pavement, poor maintenance, and overall driving conditions.
Mississauga’s Hurontario Street ranked second on the provincial list, while Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury secured the third position. Sider Road in Fort Erie followed in fourth place.
Toronto accounted for four of the province’s ten worst roads, highlighting persistent infrastructure challenges in Canada’s largest city. Steeles Avenue East ranked fifth overall and was identified as the worst road in the Toronto region. Sheppard Avenue West followed closely behind, while Bathurst Street and Unwin Avenue also earned places in the provincial top ten.
According to CAA, road users across Ontario repeatedly cited potholes, deteriorating pavement, poor road maintenance, traffic congestion, and uneven driving surfaces as major factors affecting safety, vehicle wear and tear, and commuting experiences.
Transportation advocates say the annual campaign serves as an important reminder of the need for continued investment in municipal and provincial infrastructure. Poor road conditions not only create inconvenience for drivers but can also lead to increased vehicle repair costs, safety risks, and delays for commuters, emergency services, and commercial transportation.
CAA representatives noted that the campaign gives residents a direct voice in identifying infrastructure priorities and helps bring attention to roads that require rehabilitation and long-term maintenance planning.
The regional winners for 2026 include Steeles Avenue East in Toronto, Hurontario Street in Mississauga for the Halton-Peel-York-Durham region, Barton Street East in Hamilton, Carling Avenue in Ottawa, 6th Line in Innisfil for Central Ontario, Leveque Road in South Frontenac for Eastern Ontario, Ira Needles Boulevard in Waterloo for Western Ontario, Blackwell Sideroad in Sarnia for Southwestern Ontario, Sider Road in Fort Erie for Niagara Region, and Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury for Northern Ontario.
The results underscore growing public concerns about aging infrastructure across the province as municipalities continue to balance road maintenance demands with budget pressures. For many drivers, smoother and safer roads remain among the most visible indicators of local government investment and service delivery.
As municipalities prepare future infrastructure budgets, the annual rankings are expected to serve as a roadmap for roads that residents believe deserve immediate attention and repair.