MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The city of Mount Dora is moving forward with a full rebuild of Donnelly Street after heavy rains and flash flooding late last year washed out a section of the roadway.
Mount Dora and Eustis received 15 to 19 inches of rain in just hours on Oct. 26, overwhelming roads and stormwater systems.
“We’re unhappy. We can’t walk to the library. We enjoyed walking to the library. It was part of our daily walk and now we have to wander through all these back roads and traffic and everything,” Mount Dora resident Rex Harrill said.
On Tuesday, crews began work around the clock for the next 32 days. The project calls for complete roadway reconstruction, installation of underdrains to improve long-term drainage performance, stormwater improvements, relocation of critical infrastructure, and sidewalk replacement.
“We’re thrilled to hear they’re going to hit this road and get it done in 30 or 40 days and we can walk again,” Harrill said. “They could even give us a shovel. We might help a little bit.”
Work will also include water line upgrades and broader drainage work designed to reduce the risk of future flooding and increase resiliency for the gateway to downtown.
“We anticipate having a construction contract in place next month and are targeting completion by this summer,” said City Manager Vince Sandersfeld.
The city said it has applied to the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, which could reimburse up to 80% of eligible costs, and has secured a $1.3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to fund the sidewalk replacement portion of the project.
Mount Dora officials reiterated that downtown will remain open for business during construction and that multiple alternate access points remain available. Drivers are urged to follow posted detour signage while work progresses.