Latest news with #worstroads
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Daily Mail
Top 10 most loathed highways in US revealed with California dominating
Three highways in California ranked among the worst-regarded roads in the country, according to a new survey. Drivers in Colorado , New York, Illinois and New Jersey are also just as frustrated with some of their main roads. Those states also found their major routes in those states among the ten worst roads in America. Recently, Volvo Cars of Daytona Beach compiled a list of the 100 most hated roads in the U.S. based on a poll of 3,000 drivers. The list is sure to cause debate among drivers who traverse U.S. roads - as many believe their commute is the worst. As for which road is most loathed? Go West, drivers. U.S.-101 in California Motorists ranked California's U.S.-101 as the most frustrating road in the country, particularly in the densely populated regions of San Francisco and Los Angeles. The highway is notorious for frequent bottlenecks and significant congestion. Another contributor to traffic is the road's positioning across several major tourist attractions including Redwood National Park and Yosemite National Park. 'The traffic pace can decelerate to speeds slower than an average person's walking pace, particularly noticeable during high-density travel times. Additionally, the highway traverses several major tourist attractions, adding to the traffic volume,' Volvo noted. I-5 in California No. 2 most hated was I-5, which runs the length of California. The road is a vital artery spanning from San Diego to Oregon , but its segment through Los Angeles is characterized by bottlenecking and seemingly endless construction, causing further delays. In addition to the sluggish commute, this highway also has an unfortunate reputation as one punctuated by fatal crashes. The route recorded 192 fatalities in 2019, making it the deadliest road in the state, followed by U.S.-101 with 139 fatalities. At No. 3 is I-405, or the San Diego freeway, which has earned a reputation as the busiest and most congested highway in the entire country. The road is infamous for its gridlock, particularly around Los Angeles, and has earned a reputation as one of the most congested freeways in the United States. According to 2021 data, the interstate had a crash rate of 1.042 crashes per mile. The freeway's Sepulveda Pass, adjacent to the Santa Monica mountains, presents additional geographical challenges that further compound the congestion. Last month, one person was killed in a multi-vehicle crash that halted early morning traffic near Van Nuys, according to ABC 7. The collision was initially believed to be caused by a wrong-way driver, but authorities later concluded one of the cars spun out after hitting the center divider. The Pennsylvania Turnpike, or I-76, is ill-famed for its congestion and unstable traffic patterns, especially as the route climbs into the Schuylkill Expressway in Philadelphia, where sudden slowdowns are common. The turnpike is peppered with toll plazas that often lead to crowding, despite progressive EZ-Pass systems. The highway's aging infrastructure further complicates things, as it is often undergoing maintenance, causing unpredictable lane closures. Weather plays a crucial role too, with the four-season climate introducing icy winter roadways and summer thunderstorms. The natural world has proven to be a threat: earlier this month, eastbound lanes in Lower Merion were closed following a downed tree that caused a three-car pile up. Colorado's I-70 is known for traffic snarls, particularly through the mountain corridor. These are made worse during ski season and inclement weather. The corridor becomes a bottleneck of vacationers between Denver and popular resorts during ski season. The road slices through the state's iconic Rocky Mountains, presenting a unique set of challenges for drivers. At an elevation of 11,158 feet, the Eisenhower Tunnel poses a unique challenge: as one of the highest vehicular tunnels in the world, it is often shuttered during heavy snowstorms. On December 8, five people were injured amid a pileup of 21 vehicles in Western Colorado, according to the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. Seventeen cars and four semi-trucks were involved in the crash, which remains under investigation. Alabama's I-65 falls victim to congestion, particularly around Birmingham, Volvo noted. The road has faced various infrastructure improvement projects over the years, only worsening the holdups. It is also plagued with accidents. In 2020, the state registered 14,891 interstate crashes, according to data from the Alabama Department of Transportation; 120 of these were fatalities. Delaware's DE-1 can see significant delays, especially around Dover and beach-bound routes during the summer. One of the most notorious crashes to happen along this route was in July 2018, when welder Alvin Hubber III was driving south with a co-worker. His truck crossed the median and struck a car carrying a family from Teaneck, New Jersey, as they returned from a vacation in Maryland, according to the News Journal. The collision claimed the lives of 61-year-old Audie Trinidad and his daughters, Kaitlyn, 20, Danna, 17, and twins Allison and Melissa, 13. Hubbard was sentenced in November 2019 to one year of probation, after he faced mother and widow Mary Rose Ballocanag in court. 'His one life will never be enough for the five people he killed,' Ballocanag said as she pleaded with the judge for a longer sentence. I-87 in New York causes frustration for drivers across the state, from the Big Apple to the northernmost regions. 'Especially around New York City and Albany, traffic jams can be frequent,' Volvo noted. Just last month, a fiery car crash on I-87 in Tarrytown, New York, left one man dead after his car veered from the road. In 2019, CBS News named I-87 the deadliest highway in New York state after reviewing data spanning from 2008 to 2017. They found that approximately 19 fatalities occur along the highway each year. In Illinois, I-90/I-94 in Illinois, or the Dan Ryan and Kennedy Expressways, are adjoining interstates known for heavy traffic and frequent delays. In October, the inbound and outbound Kennedy Expressway was closed following an early-morning crash on Chicago's Northwest Side, according to ABC 7. State police said a semi-truck and three vehicles collided, prompting a Level 1 hazmat issue for a diesel spill as crews tended to the truck, which was stamped with an 'explosives' emblem. In 2022, there were 191 fatal interstate crashes according to data from Illinois Department of Transportation. Rounding out the top 10 is New Jersey's Garden State Parkway. The Garden State faces heavy congestion, particularly on summer weekends, as the routes leading to and from the Jersey Shore become packed with vacationers. Most recent data from the New Jersey Department of Transportation shows 19 fatal crashes spanning multiple counties in the state. Beyond frustrating gridlock, perilous road conditions often have deadly consequences. More than 46,000 people were killed on U.S. roads last year, according to the National Safety Council, marking a 22 percent rise from pre-pandemic levels.
CBC
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CBC
Looking for a bumpy ride? Hamilton home to the 2 worst roads in Ontario, says CAA
Social Sharing Hamilton has the worst road in Ontario for the fourth year running, according to a Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) campaign. CAA's worst roads list, which has been running since at least 2003, declared Aberdeen Avenue the worst in the province, with Barton Street E. coming in second. CAA named Aberdeen Avenue the worst road in 2024, too. According to a CAA news release Thursday, "frustrations with potholes and poor road maintenance have kept this road in the number one spot." Barton Street E. held the worst road distinction in 2023 and 2022. Hamilton also held the number one spot in 2017 and 2018 with Burlington Street E. The top 10 worst roads in the province, according to the 2025 campaign, are: Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton. Barton Street E., Hamilton. County Road 49, Prince Edward County. Eglinton Avenue W., Toronto. Hurontario Street, Mississauga. Leveque Road, South Frontenac. Highway 50, Caledon. Sider Road, Fort Erie. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto. Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto. 'Reflection of public concern': city Hamilton's director of transportation Carolyn Ryall said that while she hasn't had any direct correspondence with CAA yet, the city is well aware of public concerns regarding those roads and suspected they may be on the list. "We recognize the importance of the report and we understand that it's really a reflection of public concern. It's something that we take very seriously," Ryall told CBC Hamilton. She said city teams are always working to maintain roads, filling 70,000 to 90,000 potholes per year. Hamilton invested $190 million in the transportation network in 2025, Ryall said, including a $5 million increase in the city's resurfacing fund, which is used to patch up areas that are harder to maintain. "We know that the city of Hamilton is aware of this and they've continued to invest in infrastructure," Brian Pirvu, a government relations consultant for CAA South Central Ontario, told CBC Hamilton. "We want to continue having those conversations with them in order to ensure that [funding]." He noted potholes can form more easily in our polarizing climate, where the ground can freeze and thaw rapidly, weakening asphalt. "We are seeing from certain reports that the cost of maintaining roads has increased." Aberdeen work in progress: Transportation director On Aberdeen Avenue, Pirvu said, Longwood Road S., Locke Street S., and Queen Street S., were intersections respondents flagged as particularly bad. On Barton Street E., Gave Avenue N., and Ottawa Street N., were two respondents complained about. The city is looking to fully reconstruct Aberdeen Avenue and make it better for walking, cycling and driving, but that will take a long time, Ryall said, since it requires consultation and involves infrastructure below the surface such as water and wastewater systems. In the meantime, she said, the city took residents' concerns into account and worked with Coun. Maureen Wilson (Ward 1)'s office on a plan to resurface Aberdeen Avenue between Dundurn Street S., and Studholme Road as a hold-me-over. In recent years, she said, the city completed a $7.5-million reconstruction project on Barton Street E., between Parkdale Avenue N., and Talbot Street. Hamilton is planning to do more construction between Parkdale and Ferguson Avenue N., soon, Ryall said. In Hamilton, the worst roads this year according to the campaign are: Aberdeen Avenue. Barton Street E. Main Street W. King Street E. Main Street E. In Niagara, those roads are: Sider Road, Fort Erie. Portage Road, Niagara Falls. Miller Road, Port Colborne. Lundy's Lane, Niagara Falls. Facer Street, St. Catharines. How the list is determined To determine its list, CAA asks participants to nominate roads, Pirvu said. They can share why they're nominating them and can say what type of road user they are. CAA said 84 per cent of respondents cited potholes as one of their primary reason for nominating a road. About 77 per cent cited poor road maintenance, and about 15 per cent cited congestion. Most people who submitted candidates identified themselves as drivers or people who commute by vehicle, Pirvu said, but people also noted issues from the perspective of cyclists and pedestrians. People nominated over 2,400 different roads from 208 municipalities. CAA works with the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario, which advocates for infrastructure investment, to investigate nominated roads and confirm there are issues, Pirvu said. They also work to reach out to municipalities and provinces to "promote solutions" such as accessing grants or using recycled asphalt to save money. Usually, Pirvu said, CAA sees those sorts of streets drop off the list once maintenance is done. Pirvu acknowledges that while people want well-maintained roads, maintenance can be unpopular, with CAA members reporting frustration with how long road projects take to complete. That's a balancing act, Ryall said, and city staff try to reduce disruptions by coordinating when and where different crews will work to prevent people from getting caught in multiple detours. She said people with concerns about roadways can call the city and noted potholes can be reported online.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Roads in Waterloo, Guelph and Elmira make CAA's worst roads list
CP24's Courtney Heels speaks with CAA's Teresa Di Felice about the annual list of Ontario's worst roads and the key factors behind the rankings. Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Loading the player instance is taking more time than usual Waterloo, Guelph and Elmira have made the Canadian Automobile Association's list of worst roads in Ontario. Ira Needles Boulevard in Waterloo ranked second in the campaign's western region, which included Brant, Huron, Middlesex, Norfolk, Oxford, Perth County and Waterloo Region. York Road in Guelph dropped from first place last year to fourth in 2025. This was also the third year in a row that Ira Needles Boulevard and York Road made the CAA's worst roads list. Rounding out the top five were two roads in Elmira. Arthur Street South and Barnswallow Drive both tied for last place in the western division. The CAA's list, which was released on Thursday, was as follows: Dundas Street, London Ira Needles Boulevard, Waterloo York Street, London York Road, Guelph Arthur Street South and Barnswallow Drive in Elmira While Waterloo, Guelph and Elmira were the worst in the region, they did not even rank in the top ten across Ontario. Here are what CAA has named as the worst roads for 2025:
CTV News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
CAA releases list of worst roads in northern Ont.
Burton Avenue in Sudbury was named by the CAA the fifth worst in northern Ontario. While the north didn't make the all-Ontario list, the Canadian Automobile Association says there are still some pretty horrible roads in northern Ontario. The CAA released its list of the province's worst roads Thursday, with Hamilton and Toronto dominating the list. In northeastern Ontario, Panache Lake Road in Greater Sudbury earned the dubious nod as the worst road, followed by McNabb Street in Sault Ste. Marie and Premier Road in North Bay. Two more streets in Sudbury – Allan Street and Burton Avenue – rounded out the Top 5. The full list with regional breakdowns across the province can be found here. The last time a northern Ontario road was picked as the worst was in 2015, when Algonquin Boulevard West took home the 'honour.' Before that it was Pelican Road in Sioux Lookout (2010), Vermillion Lake Road in Sudbury (2007) and Cardwell Road in the Township of Assiginack.
CTV News
4 days ago
- Automotive
- CTV News
Banwell Road listed as worst road in the southwestern region: CAA
The intersection of Banwell Road and Mulberry Drive in Windsor, Ont. is seen on August 8, 2022. (Bob Bellacicco/CTV News Windsor) The 2025 CAA Worst Roads Campaign has revealed Ontario's worst roads, with Banwell Road in Windsor taking the top spot in the southwest region. The Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario (RCCAO) supported the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) as a technical partner for the campaign. South West: Top 5 Includes Windsor, Chatham-Kent Municipality, Essex County and Lambton County. Banwell Road, Windsor Blackwell Sideroad, Sarnia Michigan Avenue, Sarnia Riverside Drive, Windsor Vidal Street South, Sarnia None of the region's roads made the Top 10 list in the province. Top 10 List Ontario Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton Barton Street East, Hamilton County Road 49, Prince Edward County Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto Hurontario Street, Mississauga Leveque Road, South Frontenac Highway 50, Caledon (Bolton) Sider Road, Fort Erie Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto 'Drivers across Ontario are all too aware of poor road upkeep and the negative impact it has on everyone's ability to get around their community,' said Nadia Todorova, executive director of RCCAO. In addition to raising awareness of roads most needing maintenance work, CAA public opinion research conducted online in January 2025, also revealed that 85 per cent of Ontarians agreed that short-term inconvenience due to road maintenance work is worth it to realize the long-term improvements needed. The complete results of this year's CAA Worst Roads Campaign can be viewed at
