Windsor

Top 5 worst roads in southwestern Ontario, according to CAA vote

CAA has released a list of the worst roads in Ontario, including the top five worst in our part of the province.

Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent takes the top spot on this list

City of Windsor crews fill in a pothole on Hickory Road. (Meg Roberts/CBC)

The Canadian Automobile Association asked "What are the worst roads in Windsor-Essex?" — and you answered.

The annual campaign allows drivers to vote on which roads across Ontario they think are the worst. 

No roads in Windsor-Essex made the provincial top ten list; however, locally there were some re-offenders. 

The "winners" last year were Tecumseh Road East, Wyandotte Street East, Seminole Street and Ouellette Avenue.

Here's the top five worst in southwestern Ontario this year:

  1. Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent
  2. Seminole Street in Windsor
  3. Plank Road in Sarnia
  4. Huron Church Road in Windsor
  5. Tecumseh Road East in Windsor

The area includes Chatham-Kent, Essex County and Lambton County.

Spokesperson for CAA Raymond Chan said the campaign does more than just point out the bad spots. 

"It's really to bring more awareness to government, it is continuing our call for more permanent and dedicated funding for infrastructure improvements," he said. "We really want to see the government step up."

Sarah Payne, 42, and her daughter, Freya Payne, 5, were killed in a crash on Hwy. 401 on Aug. 29. (Harris Funeral Home)

'Carnage Alley' tops regional list

Ontario's Ministry of Transportation committed to building a concrete median barrier along Highway 401 in Chatham-Kent and Elgin County in February.

The decision came after months of lobbying by area activists who argued a solid barrier would save lives along the area some call "carnage alley."

"We're grateful that people took the time to vote and share their own frustration with the state of this dangerous highway," said Alysson Storey, who founded the 'Build-A-Barrier' group, which advocates for concrete barriers being placed along the section of Highway 401 that runs between London and Tilbury.

Storey's friend, Sarah Payne and her five-year-old daughter, Freya Payne, of London, were killed in a crossover collision on the highway in 2017.

What did they miss?

A location on the list you don't see? Send us your pick for worst road in Windsor to windsor@cbc.ca or through our Facebook or Twitter pages. 

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