The Most ‘Hated’ Intersection in the GTA

“Constant chaos, incredibly stressful, nonstop honking” is how drivers and residents describe the intersection of Eglinton Avenue West and Allen Road in Toronto.

Ironically, this situation resulted from a “redesign” carried out by Metrolinx as part of its ambitious 2023 overhaul. It has since turned into a traffic nightmare, with long delays, endless honking, and near-miss collisions.

The changes introduced were part of the Cedarvale Station project for the Eglinton Crosstown LRT. They included new turn lanes and a pedestrian island, but this change severely disrupted traffic flow. Poor signage and abrupt lane merges have left drivers confused and stressed.

Since the redesign, Reddit users have taken to the platform to express their frustration, calling it a “hellscape” and criticizing the confusing lanes. “It feels like it was designed by someone who’s never driven before,” one user wrote.

Last month, a vehicle ended up on the pedestrian island and caught fire. “It’s only a matter of time until something worse happens,” says one resident, who hears the constant honking and shouting of exasperated drivers from his home.

Since taking control of the intersection in 2024, the City of Toronto has acknowledged the flawed design, citing it as a major source of congestion and confusion. A redesign proposal is currently under study, with results expected early next year.

For now, traffic agents have been deployed to alleviate the blockage, and the city is working with councillors to manage the overflow of vehicles into residential streets. Residents say these fixes are long overdue. “Drivers already have enough to deal with. They don’t want to arrive somewhere and be confused.”

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