For the eighth straight year, County Road 49, our cracked concrete welcome mat, has made the CAA’s 2025 Top Ten Worst Roads in Ontario list.

The roadway was ranked Ontario’s third worst road. Only Aberdeen Avenue and Barton Street East — both in Hamilton — were considered worse. 

About 6000 vehicles use 49 every day. Heavy trucks account for about 5 percent of traffic.

Prince Edward County also enjoyed the distinction of having Victoria Road place fourth on the Worst Roads in the Eastern Region list. 

Looking Ahead

Bay of Quinte MPP Tyler Allsopp was at Shire Hall in January to announce a $20 million grant through the province’s Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Fund. Rehabilitation of the roadway would support the more than 2,000 housing units on the east side of Picton slated for the next decade.

The total cost to rehabilitate 49 is $52.3 million. 

The County has set aside $7.8 million. But it is looking to the federal government and other revenue streams to fund $24.5 million still outstanding. 

During the recent federal campaign period, Bay of Quinte MP Chris Malette said it was a priority.

Mayor Steve Ferguson told the Gazette County Road 49’s continued appearance as CAA’s worst roads list sends a clear message to the federal government that it needs to step up and support this rehabilitation project.  “The Ontario government has provided $20 million and we need the federal government to join us,” Mayor Ferguson said in an email. “The municipality has done all it can and this project is ‘shovel-ready.’ Having all of the financing in place before this project moves ahead is critical so that we can undertake this work in the most cost-effective manner possible.”

CAA’s Top Ten worst roads list is verified by the Residential and Civil Construction Alliance of Ontario.

Each year, CAA invites Ontario drivers, cyclists, transit riders and pedestrians to nominate in the CAA Worst Roads campaign and tell the Association which roads need improvement. 

This year, participants nominated over 2,400 different roads from 208 municipalities, up from 2,000 roads from 145 municipalities in 2024.