Locals name Waterloo Region’s roughest roads ahead of CAA Worst Roads Campaign

Waterloo Region’s worst streets include Ira Needles Boulevard, University Avenue, and parts of Bridgeport Road, according to locals from the region.

Other roads listed were Victoria Street between King Street and Fischer-Hallman Road, and King Street West by Grand River Hospital in Downtown Kitchener.

“There are so many stop lights, and it’s always so busy that pedestrian crossing is hard there,” one person said of King Street West. “Cars trying to get past causes a lot of build up and a lot of traffic.”

They added, however, concede that the road itself is well maintained.

Pedestrians shared their opinions with CityNews ahead of CAA’s annual Worst Roads Campaign. Until April 21, people across Ontario can nominate the province’s worst streets.

“A lot of breakage, potholes, unevenness,” someone told CityNews of Bridgeport Road, “especially for cyclists.”

University Avenue was also reported to be full of potholes, as well as uneven bicycle lanes and post-secondary students.

Two locals mentioned Ira Needles Boulevard, with one highlighting the danger when pedestrians cross the roundabouts because it slows down the cars. For the other, the potholes were the concern.

Many side streets also need work, at least according to one person.

“When they’re trying to fix the road it’s kind of a half job,” they said, “There’s some tar put in there or something and it’s still coming up off the ground and off the road.”

In the CAA Worst Roads Campaign, participants are allowed to nominate as many roads as they like. On May 30, CAA will release a list of the top 10 worst roads in Ontario, as well as lists of the top five for 10 regions across the province.

CAA Assistant Vice President of Government and Community Relations for South Central Ontario, Theresa Di Felice, said the campaign can encourage municipalities to fix streets sooner than originally planned.

As an example, she points to last year’s top worst road, which was in Hamilton. Before the campaign the street was not slated to have a reconstruction until 2025, but shortly after CAA released the top-10 list, the city council put money into starting work last year.

Di Felice also says CAA has long advocated for funding from the senior level of government because municipalities sometimes need budget assistance to get projects done.

Those wishing to vote for a road in the Worst Roads Campaign can nominate it at CAAWorstRoads.com.