Dominion Road ranked worst road in Niagara and ninth worst road in Ontario

THOROLD, ON (May 21, 2015) Dominion Road in Fort Erie has the dubious distinction of worst road in the region and ninth worst in the province, CAA Niagara announced today when it released the final results of the 2015 CAA Worst Roads Campaign.

"That's the bad news, but the good news is Niagara Region has earmarked between $11 million and $12 million to fix the road," said Rick Mauro, CAA Niagara's vice president of marketing and public relations.

"Niagara Region has money in the 2015 budget for design work for two portions of Dominion Road," said Mike DiPaola, associate director, transportation engineering at Niagara Region. "Utility relocations and construction is scheduled to start in 2016 continuing into 2017." The portions of Dominion Road scheduled for design work are Burleigh Road to Buffalo Road and Lakeshore Road to Helena Street.

"We're pleased to see Niagara Region's plans to repair Dominion Road," Mr. Mauro said. "It's not unusual to see a road that is about to be repaired rise in the ranks of Worst Roads. It's a darkest before the dawn scenario typically. However, Dominion Road (ranked second worst in Niagara in 2014) is only one of nearly 200 Niagara roads nominated, demonstrating the need for local government to keep infrastructure a priority."

The four-week campaign concluded in mid-April and in the interim the Ontario Road Builders Association (ORBA) verified and assessed the top worst roads. Last year, Stanley Avenue was named Niagara's worst road and Ontario's second worst. With road work expected to be done by late summer, Stanley Avenue has fallen to the fourth spot in Niagara and is off of the provincial list. New to Niagara's top 10 list is Queenston Street in St. Catharines. Nearly 100 per cent of those who voted for Queenston Street cited potholes and crumbling pavement.

Niagara's Top 10 Worst Roads are:

  1. Dominion Road, Fort Erie
  2. Queenston Street, St. Catharines
  3. Lakeshore Road, Niagara-on-the-Lake
  4. Stanley Avenue, Niagara Falls
  5. Drummond Road, Niagara Falls
  6. Wellington Street, Welland
  7. Ontario Street, St. Catharines
  8. Niagara Street, Welland
  9. Dorchester Road, Niagara Falls
  10. Regional Road 87, Niagara-on-the-Lake

Ontario's Top 10 Worst Roads are:

  1. Algonquin Boulevard West, Timmins
  2. Algonquin Boulevard East, Timmins
  3. Dufferin Street, Toronto
  4. Highway 144, Greater Sudbury
  5. Carling Avenue, Ottawa
  6. Radical Road, Port Dover
  7. Burlington Street East, Hamilton
  8. Riverside Drive, Timmins
  9. Dominion Road, Fort Erie
  10. Bayview Avenue, Toronto

CAA in its ongoing advocacy efforts will present the 2015 Worst Roads results to local and provincial government officials. CAA will also continue its call for a dedicated, predictable and permanent gasoline-tax fund for Ontario's roads, highways and bridges.

CAA Niagara is a not-for-profit auto club that also offers insurance and travel. Founded in 1911 as the St. Catharines Automobile Club with just 16 members, CAA Niagara has grown to more than 119,000 members with five Niagara locations.

Contact: media@caaniagara.ca

Worst Roads