Ira Needles Boulevard named worst road in Waterloo Region: CAA
Posted Jun 5, 2025 06:31:37 AM.
Last Updated Jun 5, 2025 12:02:07 PM.
A notorious Waterloo Region road has landed high on the Canadian Automobile Association’s (CAA) list of the worst roads in Ontario.
Ira Needles Boulevard, a regional road running through Kitchener and Waterloo from Highway 7/8 to Erb Street, was named the second-worst road in Ontario’s Western region for 2025, only behind Dundas Street in London.
“We’re hoping that in the coming years that there will be some work and that eventually Ira Needles will move off the list,” said Teresa Di Felice, assistant vice president of Government and Community Relations at CAA. “I think the municipality has heard people’s nominations loud and clear.”
Ira Needles Boulevard rose in the rankings this year from number four in 2024 and 2023, and is the highest ranking for a Waterloo Region road since Waterloo’s Northfield Drive West topped the Western Ontario list back in 2017.
“Sometimes when you’ve got a road that’s this big, that has aged infrastructure, and has moved beyond simple road resurfacing, it requires major road reconstruction, there are phases that the municipality has to do in order to make those fixes,” said Di Felice.
Ira Needles Boulevard expanded from two lanes to four lanes through a $10 million regional project in 2015.
The top five worst roads in Western Ontario also featured York Road in Guelph at number four, and Elmira’s Arthur Street South and Barnswallow Drive split the number five slot.
The worst roads in Ontario over the last 22 years according to CAA’s campaign include:
- Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton (2025, 2024)
- Barton Street East, Hamilton (2022, 2023)
- Victoria Road, Prince Edward County (2021)
- Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto (2019)
- Burlington Street East, Hamilton (2017, 2018)
- County Road 49, Prince Edward County (2016)
- Algonquin Blvd West, Timmins (2015)
- Dufferin St., Toronto (2012 ,2013, 2014)
- Pelican Road, Municipality of Sioux Lookout (2010)
- Steeles Ave West, Toronto (2008, 2009)
- Vermillion Lake Road, City of Greater Sudbury (2007)
- Cardwell Road, Township of Assiginack (2006)
- Steeles Ave West, Toronto (2003, 2005)
- Albert Street, Township of Norwich, Oxford County (2004)
The campaign aims to inform municipalities of which roads drivers deem to be below standards, and Di Felice noted that many roads that feature highly on the annual list often receive upgrades as a result.
“When communities band together, when people come together to have their voice heard, you can see that those nominations drive those roads to the top 10. If Waterloo wants more attention, they’re going to have to rally next year to get more attention,” added Di Felice.
