DOES The Boulevarde at Toronto have the worst road surface of any main street in the Hunter?
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Toronto residents such as Ron Williams reckon The Boulevarde is a red hot contender for the title.
He is among a growing group of locals who are telling the Lakes Mail that the warped and pot-holed road is "disgraceful".
"It's one of the worst main roads in the Hunter," Mr Williams said.
"It's full of holes and is as rough as rough all the way from top to bottom."
Lake Macquarie City Council are onto it.
They have a $4 million revamp lined up for The Boulevarde next year.
The Toronto Streetscape Master Plan includes tree planting, paving, lighting, seating, bike racks, public art and drinking fountains.
Work on the makeover is expected to start in March.
But locals say repair works are needed before then.
Toronto Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Gail Ryan said the road and footpaths on The Boulevarde demanded an urgent fix.
"It's disgusting. There are deep pot-holes and someone's going to do damage to their car," Ms Ryan said.
Of more concern was the possibility of pedestrians being injured.
The Boulevarde will be closed to traffic for the Greater Toronto Spring Fair on October 17.
The road will be transformed into a pedestrian-friendly mall for the event.
"The road is dangerous enough for cars, but we've got the spring fair coming up and I'm concerned that somebody is going to have a fall and get hurt," Ms Ryan said.
Council road crews recently used hot mix to patch a particularly poor section of the road.
Ms Ryan said it was "a welcome band-aid fix" but more band-aids were needed.
Council's city projects acting manager, Kirrily Vincer, said the streetscape plan would bring "significant benefits" for visitors and business.
"To continue to prosper, The Boulevarde needs remedial work from the ground up to create vibrant, modern, user-friendly, functioning community spaces that give life to this ageing street," Ms Vincer said.
Ms Ryan said businesses on The Boulevarde were bracing for the inevitable disruption that the street makeover would have on trade.
"We need this remedial work.
"I just hope the council can do it with the least impact on business as possible," she said.