CAA’s Worst Roads campaign fires up, will your street make the list?

In its 23rd year, the campaign invites community members to nominate the roads they feel are in the worst condition.

Drivers fed up with potholes and bumpy rides have their chance to speak up again; the annual CAA’s Worst Roads campaign is officially back in motion.

Now in its 23rd year, the campaign invites the community to nominate the roads they believe are in the worst condition, putting pressure on municipalities to prioritize well-needed repairs.

New survey data released Tuesday from CAA, shows eight in 10 people are concerned about road conditions across the province.

Nearly 70 per cent also say not enough is being done to maintain them; this is up five per cent from last year.

“Over the years, we have heard about potholes, congestion, poor road signs and other safety concerns. Nominating Ontario’s Worst Roads helps shine the spotlight on where more work is needed,” states CAA on its website.

Looking back at the 2025 results

Closer to home, drivers in the Barrie area had plenty to say in 2025.

In the Central region rankings, Innisfil’s 7th Line took the cake as the worst road, followed by Huronia Road in Barrie and Brentwood Road in Angus.

Andria Leigh, director for Planning and Growth with the Town of Innisfil, says the Town completed a Municipal Class Environment Assessment for improvements to the 7^th Line from 20^th Sideroad down to Lake Simcoe.

To complete the work, she said a contract has been awarded to Tatham Engineering Ltd. and involves property acquisitions and utility relocations which are currently underway.

Construction for the project is expected to start in 2027 with an estimated completion time in late fall 2028.

“The goal of this work is to create a safe and durable roadway that provides increased capacity and active transportation in the form of a sidewalk and multi-use path,” says Leigh. “Keeping in mind the Town’s commitment to road safety, there will also be traffic calming measures, pedestrian crossing and intersection improvements. Additionally, the project includes streetscaping and landscaping features and improvements to stormwater and drainage systems.”

The City of Barrie confirmed that a similar construction on Huronia Road was already in the works.

• Innisfil tops CAA’s Worst Roads in central region
• Road ranking in CAA’s Worst Roads list to undergo necessary upgrades

Barrie showed up more than once on the 2025 list. Mary Street ranked fourth, while nearby areas also made the cut, including Laclie Street in Orillia and Fraserburg Road in Bracebridge.

With nominations now open, drivers have the opportunity to call out the streets they think need serious attention and potentially see them climb to the top of this year’s chart.

CAA’s annual Worst Roads campaign has sparked change since 2003. The campaign runs until April 17.

With files from CTV’s Jocelyn Martin and Mike Lang