Crews are back on Donnelly Street, and this time they are not just patching potholes. On Tuesday, workers kicked off a full rebuild of the washed-out stretch of Mount Dora’s main gateway into downtown, months after last fall’s historic flash flooding ripped it apart. The effort focuses on reconstructing pavement and overhauling subsurface drainage in the zone where stormwater bursts out of retention ponds and undercuts the roadway. City officials say the work will permanently reshape downtown access, reroute key utilities and, they hope, stand up better to the next big storm.
According to ClickOrlando, crews are scheduled to work around the clock for the next 32 days on a full road and drainage reconstruction, with completion targeted for May. The outlet reports that Mount Dora and neighboring Eustis were hammered with roughly 15 to 19 inches of rain in a matter of hours on Oct. 26, a deluge that overwhelmed local stormwater systems and literally washed the roadway away. ClickOrlando also notes that water-line upgrades and broader drainage work are already in progress to help avoid a repeat performance.
What the rebuild includes
As outlined by the City of Mount Dora, the project calls for new underdrains, a rebuilt roadway base, upgraded stormwater pipes, and relocation of potable and reclaimed water lines to shore up system reliability. Sidewalk replacement and other streetscape improvements are bundled into the job, and consultants widened the scope to study the entire drainage basin that feeds downtown. Temporary mitigation measures already in place along the west side of Donnelly Street and at Lake John will stay put while engineers finalize their recommendations.
Detours and downtown access
WFTV reported that the damaged section of Donnelly remains shut down between Limit Avenue and Fiddler Drive, a closure that left some downtown businesses operating with limited service after the October storm. To keep traffic moving around the construction zone, city updates have included flashing signals and temporary stop controls at key intersections. Drivers are urged to follow posted detours and be ready for periodic lane closures as crews move equipment in and out.
Timeline and contracting
A public project listing on ConstructConnect shows an anticipated start near March 23 and a short invitation to bid for the emergency roadway repair, which tracks with the city’s fast-tracked bidding schedule. City staff posted the solicitation earlier this winter, and officials signaled a mid-March contractor selection to lock in a tight spring work window. Intensive mobilization is expected in the first week as crews tackle backfill, drainage improvements, and the relocation of utilities.
Funding and the bigger picture
The city reports it has applied for federal help through the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief program, which could reimburse up to 80 percent of the reconstruction costs, and has secured a 1.3 million FEMA grant dedicated to sidewalk replacement tied to the project. Those federal boosts, officials say, should ease the burden on local budgets while giving Mount Dora a stronger, more resilient front door after a storm that delivered truly historic rainfall. The Donnelly work is also part of a broader basin review that aims to cut future flood risk in neighborhoods uphill from the lake.
Through the spring, expect flaggers, lane closures, and plenty of detour signs. Drivers are urged to follow the posted routes and give workers room to operate. City leaders say they will keep residents updated on schedules and access maps as the rebuild moves forward.
