MOUNT DORA, Fla. – The City of Mount Dora is reopening Donnelly Street nearly seven months after heavy rains and flash flooding washed out a section of the roadway.
The road collapse happened on October 26 when parts of Lake County received 15 to 19 inches of rain in a matter of hours.
In the months that followed, the city deployed an emergency response that included engineering, permitting, and funding coordination for rebuilding the road.
In March, crews began work on the project, which included roadway reconstruction, installation of underdrains to improve long-term drainage performance, stormwater improvements, relocation of critical infrastructure, and sidewalk replacement.
The work also included water line upgrades and broader drainage work designed to reduce the risk of future flooding and increase resiliency for the gateway to downtown.
The city said it applied to the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief Program, which could reimburse up to 80% of eligible costs, and secured a $1.3 million Federal Emergency Management Agency grant to fund the sidewalk replacement portion of the project.
Drivers will be able to use the reopened portion of Donnelly Street following a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday at 1 p.m.