Every day in Ontario, the cost of using substandard municipal roads and bridges increases through damage to vehicles, the environment and consumers wallets, and also threatens the safety of drivers and pedestrians alike.
Now entering its sixth year, Ontario's Worst Roads Campaign launched with a call for politicians of all levels and stripes to address the historically inadequate investment in improving road and bridge infrastructures and to dedicate long-term sustainable funding to help make driving smoother and safer.
“We have had tremendous success bringing to the forefront the issue of Ontario's crumbling municipal roads and bridges infrastructure, with over 90 per cent of the roads named to our annual list being addressed," said Kris Barnier, chair of Ontario's Worst Municipal Roads campaign.
"The province has also stepped up to the plate this year with a series of significant commitments to help municipalities fix their ailing roads and bridges,” he continued. “While all levels of government are paying attention and are doing more, we are calling on politicians at all levels to work together to develop and fund a strategy that will bring all Ontario roads up to a safe and acceptable state of repair."
Motorists, cyclists and transit users have been logging onto www.worstroads.ca every year since 2003 to cast their ballots for the worst road in Ontario. Through the website, motorists share stories about how bad roads are causing thousands of dollars in damage to their cars and are putting their safety at risk. Their clear message is that they want their politicians to make road and bridge repairs a top-level priority.
In last year's campaign, Greater Sudbury Area's Vermillion Lake Road was named the worst road in Ontario, followed by Lansing Avenue in third, Bancroft Drive in eighth, and Notre Dame Avenue in 10th. So far in this year's campaign, Regent Street has been named to the top 20 worst roads list.
"Road users can join the campaign for sustainable funding and make their voices heard by casting their ballot for a worst road at CAA stores, or select approved repair facilities, or by logging onto www.worstroads.ca," said Barnier. "Voters also have the option of sharing their vote with their mayor, or they can send an e-card to Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Premier Dalton McGuinty, calling on them to share money with municipalities for roads and bridges."
Voting closes Oct. 20.
