CAA Paves the Way for Motorists to Have their Say

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - May 2, 2012) - We asked and motorists responded. After tabulating a record number of votes cast during the ninth annual Worst Roads campaign, CAA North & East Ontario (CAANEO) has announced the highly-anticipated Top 10 list, with two roads from CAANEO's region making the final tally.

While Toronto's Dufferin St. took the dubious first place honour on the Top 10 list, through its theme - "Help Pave the Way to Safer Roads" - the 2012 Worst Roads campaign reiterated that regardless of the size and location of the municipality, road users across the province share similar frustrations when it comes to crumbling infrastructure.

"With nearly 10,000 votes cast, this year's spring campaign saw the largest level of participation in the Worst Roads' history, which serves as proof that motorists across the province continue to be frustrated with deteriorating roads and bridges," said Tim Georgeoff, CEO and President of CAA North & East Ontario.

From the North & East Ontario region, Timmins' Kraft Creek Rd. made its inaugural appearance on the Worst Roads list, coming in at number five. Timmins was last on the Worst Roads list in 2007. Following its assessment of the roadway, the Ontario Road Builders' Association (ORBA) reiterated concerns raised by voters, stating: "There are a lot of bad rural roads in Ontario, but this two-lane horror is really bad - every kilometre of it."

No stranger to the Worst Roads list, Carling Ave. in Ottawa was voted into the seventh spot by road users. Despite ongoing rehabilitation work along sections of Carling Ave., motorists continue to voice their frustrations with the state of this busy roadway. As the ORBA stated in its assessment, "stretches of cracked and rutted pavement prevail - probably the construction involved with yearly maintenance work has also tried commuters' patience."

Several other communities from throughout the North & East Ontario region received nominations during the 2012 campaign as well, and some were only a few votes away from making it into the Top 10, including Hammond and Thunder Bay.

This year's Top 10 Worst Roads in Ontario are:

	Road Name	Municipality
1	Dufferin Street	Toronto
2	Bunting Road	St. Catharines
3	Burlington Street East	Hamilton
4	Stanley Avenue	Niagara Falls
5	Kraft Creek Road	Timmins
6	Lawrence Avenue East	Toronto
7	Carling Avenue	Ottawa
8	Finch Avenue West	Toronto
9	Kingston Road	Toronto
10	Bayview Avenue	Toronto

Since the campaign commenced in 2003, an astounding 90% of the roads that have made the list in the past have been repaired, or are in the midst of being repaired. CAANEO is hopeful that this positive trend of infrastructure rehabilitation will continue with the roads that have received recognition on the 2012 Worst Roads list.

CAA North & East Ontario, in concert with CAA South Central Ontario, CAA Niagara and the Ontario Road Builders' Association, would like to thank everyone who took the time to cast a ballot for the roadway they deem to be the worst in Ontario.

For more than 100 years, the Canadian Automobile Association has provided travel, emergency road services, insurance and advocacy for its Members. Visit caaneo.ca.