Potholes plague Hamilton, Niagara roads as winter damage mounts

Potholes are popping up across our region — from Hamilton to St. Catharines, drivers say they’re dodging craters and paying the price.

“It’s kinda like a game of zigzag where you’re driving down the road trying to avoid those potholes,” said Hamilton resident Andrew Johnson.

We’re almost halfway through winter and the damage it’s leaving behind is front and centre on Ontario roads, turning smooth pavement into crater country — leaving drivers gripping their steering wheels and their wallets.

“The suspension, I had to fix a couple of times because there’s a lot of holes,” said Hamilton resident Jesus Hernandez.

Potholes are caused by a combo of water seeping in, freezing-and-thawing cycles and traffic load.

Drivers say these potholes aren’t just annoying — they’re unavoidable.

“You know, the potholes are one of those things that you just kinda learn to live with in Hamilton. We spent a lot of time in the north end of Hamilton and getting down there from where we live in Ancaster can be quite the adventure to say the least,” said Johnson.

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Complaints about potholes in Hamilton are backed up by the numbers. According to the Canadian Automobile Association’s Top 10 Worst Roads in Ontario list for 2025, Hamilton is dominating the rankings, though not in a good way.

Taking the top two spots: Aberdeen Avenue at number one and Barton Street East at number two.

The problem isn’t limited to Hamilton. In St. Catharines, one street ranked fifth worst in the Niagara Region — proving potholes don’t respect municipal boundaries.

“Facer [Street] has the most. They fixed a few but there are still quite a few more potholes to be fixed,” said St. Catharines resident Shawn Horvat.

“It could be a really big road safety concern. If you’re seeing a pothole and you swerve to avoid it and you’re not paying attention to your surroundings, which could cause an accident,” said Brian Pirvu, CAA government relations consultant.

CAA says pothole damage can leave drivers with a hefty bill.

“It can range from a cost of $300 to up to $2,000 to fix the vehicle due to pothole damage,” said Pirvu.

Meanwhile, Operation Smooth Roads is underway in Niagara Falls — a $4.2 million project expected to wrap up this summer. Officials are also promoting the city’s online pothole reporting tool.

“I imagine everybody is calling because when people hit that thing, it’s pretty deep. It’s definitely causing damage,” said St. Catharines resident Christian Brooker

Until repairs catch up, drivers are urged to slow down, stay alert and keep both hands on the wheel.

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