Andrea Horwath

Mayor of Hamilton

Hamilton City Hall

2nd floor - 71 Main Street West

Hamilton, Ontario L8P 4Y5

 

Dear Andrea Horwath,

We, the undersigned residents of Hamilton, are writing to you urgently to address the deplorable state of our city's roads, particularly in the downtown area. Despite numerous attempts to bring attention to this issue with the city's road department, we have seen little to no action taken to rectify the situation.

Hamilton's roads have become riddled with potholes, some exceeding three feet in diameter, posing a significant threat to the safety of motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. The asphalt has disintegrated, leaving behind a hazardous landscape of deteriorating road surfaces and dangerous potholes.

Last year, Toronto implemented a successful pothole blitz, demonstrating the effectiveness of proactive measures in addressing road maintenance issues. We believe that a similar initiative is urgently needed in Hamilton to address the growing pothole problem and ensure the safety of our community members.

Furthermore, we urge the city to expedite minor repairs and patchwork efforts, as the current pace of action is unacceptable. It often takes an unreasonable amount of time for the city to address even the smallest potholes, resulting in further deterioration of our roads and increased safety risks for residents.

Additionally, the absence of an online reporting tool on the city's website for residents to report potholes is concerning. Such a tool would enable residents to report issues promptly, facilitating timely action from the city.

We wish to highlight several areas in urgent need of attention:

1. Cannon St West between James St North and Queen St South: This stretch of road has virtually no road surface left, with potholes present in every part and corner.
2. Aberdeen Avenue between Queen St S and Longwood Road South: This road is in urgent need of attention and is one of the worst affected by potholes.
3. York Boulevard (between Dundurn St N and Bay St N).
4. Main Street West (Front of McMaster University).
5. Upper James St.
6. Golf Links Road
7. Olser Drive (between Grant St and Main St W)
8. Charlton Ave West
9. Whitney Ave (Ainslie Wood)
10. James St North between King St East and King William St: The pedestrian crossing parts at both intersections are severely sunken, putting pedestrians, particularly those with mobility issues, at risk.
11. James St North Jackson Square entrance: The road surface has become deformed over the years, posing a hazard to pedestrians and vehicles alike.

We call upon you to take immediate action to address the poor road conditions in Hamilton and ensure the safety and well-being of all residents. Our community deserves safe and well-maintained roads, and we urge you to prioritize this issue without further delay.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to seeing meaningful improvements in our city's road infrastructure.

Sincerely,

Hamilton Residents