Hamilton’s Barton Street Tops List of Worst Roads in Ontario

Steve Groom wasn’t shocked to see Hamilton’s Barton Street East ranked as the worst road in Ontario according to the Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) annual list.

The CAA released its findings Thursday morning. It’s not the first time Barton – the longest road in the city – has received this unfortunate title. This year, Hurontario Street in Mississauga came in second place, while Notre Dame Avenue in Greater Sudbury was third.

Groom works at Wheel Wizards, a rim shop located near Barton Street East and Sherman Street North. He says he often sees the impact of the road’s poor condition on vehicles that come into his shop – along with the irritated drivers who have to deal with the bumpy street just to get there.

“None of them like driving on it, that’s for sure, and they’re just cursing up and down,” says Groom, who not only replaces rims but also refinishes them.

“We get a lot of bent ones coming in. A lot of times, you have to scrap the rim when they’re bent like that. You need a whole new one.”

WATCH | Toronto has four of the top 10 worst roads:

Chow’s take on the Toronto roads making CAA’s top 10 worst roads list

CAA’s top 10 worst roads list for Ontario in 2026 is out – and four streets from Toronto made it onto this year’s lineup. Mayor Olivia Chow mentioned that funding is being freed up through the Ontario-Toronto New Deal, which is nearing completion, to improve city roads.

Drivers and cyclists affected, says mechanic

The CAA discovered that average repair costs due to road issues have risen over two years from $850 to $930.

Wheel Wizards is located just steps away from the stretch of Barton Street East included in this year’s worst-road recognition.

While this street has been highlighted several times before – winning back-to-back titles in 2022 and 2023 – previous complaints were generally about sections further east along the road, according to Brian Pirvu, government relations consultant for CAA South Central Ontario.

This year’s majority of votes pointed out problems with intersections on Barton between Sherman and Kenilworth avenues. In that area, potholes and bumps make it seem almost un-paved at times.

Steve Groom works at a rim repair shop Wheel Wizards, and has seen some rims in bad shape after encounters with Hamilton’s potholes. (Saira Peesker/CBC)

Resurfacing work set for Barton

The City of Hamilton clearly recognizes these issues. Mayor Andrea Horwath informed CBC Hamilton that resurfacing work from Kenilworth to Emerald Street-covering sections noted by CAA-will commence “in the coming weeks.”

She added that additional resurfacing efforts on Barton are scheduled for 2027.

“We know there is more work ahead; we are making progress and remain committed to improving roads across Hamilton,” she said in an email on Thursday.

Groom mentioned how Hamilton’s poor road conditions lead to many car repairs that could be avoided. He noted it’s not only drivers feeling frustrated; cyclists also struggle when roads aren’t well maintained.

“I try to stay away from Barton Street as much as possible,” Groom says.

Potholes main cause of complaints: CAA

Certainly within CAA’s 2026 list besides its top three worst roads, Sider Road in Fort Erie took fourth place. Four other streets among those ten were found in Toronto: Steeles Avenue East, Sheppard Avenue West, Bathurst Street and Unwin Avenue.

Hurontario Street holds second place running through central Mississauga and Brampton; it’s been undergoing construction for years as they build an 18-kilometre Hazel Mc Callion LRT Line named after former Mississauga mayor Hazel Mc Callion herself-initially expected to open by 2024.

Pirvu explained that while traffic congestion is a major concern for some high-ranking roads like Hurontario, potholes combined with inadequate maintenance primarily drove complaints about Barton.

Barton being Hamilton’s longest street makes it less surprising that it’s been recognized multiple times; Pirvu stated such lengthy roads often remain listed for several years until municipalities can address all their necessary repairs.Potholes can be seen on Barton Street East in Hamilton, near Sherman Avenue North. (Saira Peesker/CBC)

This past Thursday saw drivers dodging lanes trying hard not hit various sized potholes while bumping along washboard-like patches near Gage Avenue where smooth pavement feels like an old memory now.

A deep trench stretches nearly uninterrupted across one westbound lane spanning eastward starting from Ottawa street North until Gage; loose gravel scattered everywhere indicating pavement decay.

Pirvu confirmed many previously listed troubled roads eventually got fixed thanks their respective municipalities including parts near Parkdale Avenue North or Aberdeen Ave close Dundurn St South.

Hamilton committing more towards road repairs

Pirvu remarked how lately Hamilton has focused heavily upon repairing its infrastructure citing $655 million earmarked under infrastructure & transit outlined within budgets set forth earlier last year alongside allocating at least around $150 million just solely towards roadway restorations this current fiscal period alone since preceding years lacked sufficient investment surrounding upkeep needs regarding municipal properties such cities rely upon heavily.

Last year officials reported estimated gaps existing between funds required maintaining city-owned assets against allocated amounts totaling approximately between $3 billion-$7 billion overall depending factors considered involved here needing addressing promptly based upon dire circumstances necessitating attention without delay moving forward proactively which requires significant planning input thus taking account viability risks associated once investments had gone unmade too long resulting inevitable consequences faced down route.
Mayor Horwath asserted council members plus staff indeed working diligently crafting feasible asset management solutions targeting gap closure objectives simultaneously driving improvement initiatives occurring consistently throughout entire community sectors alike hoping establish positive change arising ultimately benefiting everyone positively engaged during processes involved directly affecting daily living standards enjoyed daily basis thanks thoughtful leadership exercised every step journey undertaken collectively ensuring best outcomes possible achieved collaboratively thereafter.

The city’s spring pothole blitz launched early last month saw teams fix over two thousand one hundred holes bringing cumulative totals exceeding thirty-five thousand repaired so far marking significant milestones reached together enhancing overall quality experiences each resident enjoys while traversing local thoroughfares regularly encountered day-to-day lives encountered frequently enough remind us importance maintaining good safe highways availability always accessible nearby given critical roles played everyday routines lived routinely without fail whatsoever visible clear paths always taken seriously monitored actively whenever necessary corrected swiftly thereafter.”People vent frustrations concerning states observed merely amongst friends family coworkers etc., instead speaking out expressing concerns toward appropriate governmental representatives directly holding accountable responding adequately providing efficient solutions needed urgently addressed soon afterwards.”

Source link