These are officially the worst roads in Ontario in 2025

Even those drivers who are used to the Toronto area's infamously blood-boiling traffic would agree that there are certain roads in and around the city that are especially exasperating to traverse. 

And, a new ranking from CAA has now officially called these streets out.

The region's congestion issues are recognized as among the worst in the world and are only intensifying, with local highways anticipated to slow to average speeds of less than 20 km/h in the coming decades. 

A sharp surge in immigration that has rendered Toronto the fastest-growing metropolis in North America has put millions more cars on the road, while countless years-long construction projects, both public and private, have caused incessant traffic bottlenecks.

When thinking of gridlocked chaos, certain thoroughfares naturally come to mind for any local: the Gardiner Expressway, in the midst of an enormous overhaul that will mean lane closures for at least the next few years, and Eglinton Avenue, which has been a chaotic mess for more than 13 years now as crews build the much-delayed Eglinton Crosstown LRT.

Both streets were recognized as being among the worst roads in Ontario on CAA's list for 2025, which was released Thursday.

"Poor roads affect us all. They make us late, cause delivery delays, contribute to congestion and, most importantly, can endanger those who use them," the automobile association wrote as a preface to the lineup, which was crowdsourced from Ontario drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians.

"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."

While Eglinton Ave. has topped the list in previous years — it even managed to secure the top two spots in 2021 — given how close the Crosstown LRT is to completion, the artery has fallen to the fourth spot this year.

Above it are two problem streets in nearby Hamilton, Aberdeen Avenue and Barton Street East, as well as the busy County Road 49 in Prince Edward County.

The Gardiner, meanwhile, took ninth place in Ontario with all of its recent roadwork, while another Toronto street, Sheppard Avenue West, was ranked tenth.

The top 10 list for the worst roads in Ontario for this year, in full, is as follows:

1. Aberdeen Avenue, Hamilton
2. Barton Street East, Hamilton
3. County Road 49, Prince Edward County
4. Eglinton Avenue West, Toronto
5. Hurontario Street, Mississauga
6. Leveque Road, South Frontenac
7. Highway 50, Caledon (Bolton)
8. Sider Road, Fort Erie
9. Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway, Toronto
10. Sheppard Avenue West, Toronto

CAA's Toronto-specific top 5 list, meanwhile, is:

1. Eglinton Avenue West
2. Frederick G. Gardiner Expressway
3. Sheppard Avenue West
4. Sheppard Avenue East
5. Steeles Avenue West

Like Eglinton before it, it seems that poor ol' Sheppard Ave. has gotten bad enough to overtake multiple spots on the list — our condolences to drivers in the neighbourhood.