These are the worst roads in northern Ontario 2023

The Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is out with its annual 'Worst Roads' lists and the top five in northern Ontario are located in Timmins, Greater Sudbury and North Bay.

CAA Worst Roads in northern Ontario list for 2023

"Each year, CAA invites Ontario drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians to vote in the CAA Worst Roads campaign and tell us which roads need improvement," the association said.

"Your feedback helps us start a dialogue with the government to help pave the way for safer roads across Ontario."

According to the survey, three of the top five in northern Ontario are in Greater Sudbury, one is in North Bay and the worst in the region is still Algonquin Boulevard in Timmins.

CAA officials said the rankings factor in much more thank just potholes, which are usually one of the biggest complaints from drivers.

Potholes and patching on a northern road. (CTV Northern Ontario)

"A lot of people were complaining about poor maintenance, poor road infrastructure, nowhere to walk, nowhere to cycle. These are ongoing issues,” said Julie Beun, of CAA North & East Ontario.

The northern list includes communities in the districts of Algoma, Cochrane, Kenora, Manitoulin, Nipissing, Parry Sound and more.

#1 WORST ROAD

In the not-so-coveted first place, Algonquin Boulevard East in Timmins has a notorious reputation as one of the worst roads in the north and the latest CAA rankings show it is topping the regional list once again.

#2

Greater Sudbury took up three of the top five spots with Fielding Road coming in at No. 2, Panache Lake Road at No. 4 and Van Horne Street as No. 5.

#3

North Bay’s Premier Road came in third on the list of five worst northern roads.

WORK BEING DONE

City officials around the region said revitalizing roads has to factor into budgets and the economic returns.

"This summer, we invested at least $25 million in road construction work, so, yeah, we’re just committed to revamping our infrastructure," said Scott Tam, the director of growth and infrastructure for the City of Timmins,

"This is one of the core, vital pieces of infrastructure within the community and we’re committed to […] getting up to today’s standards.”

The CAA’s worst roads list looks to draw attention to road concerns from both drivers and pedestrians and officials said it's important that northerners are weighing in .

"People up north are seeing the value of raising their voices and saying something," Beun said.

Northern roads make up about 30 per cent of highway and almost 50 per cent of roadways in the province that are in poor condition.

The hope is that municipal and provincial funding will better address problem road and save people money on vehicle repairs.