MOUNT DORA, Fla. – Nearly three months after Hurricane Milton flooding left a massive hole in a section of Brit Road in Mount Dora, Lake County officials have given an update on the repair process.
Britt Road is a major connector road located between State Road 44 and Round Lake Road, which many travelers use to access the Wekiva Parkway. Ever since the wash-out, the road closure has impacted residents who currently rely on alternative routes such as State Road 44 and County Road 437.
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According to a news release, the county began working to resolve the road issues right after the October storm passed, but many factors outside the County’s control have complicated reconstruction.
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“I understand how inconvenient this ongoing closure is,” Lake County Chairman Leslie Campione said in the release. “Those who relied on Britt Road daily must drive [farther] and spend more time on the road getting to work or school, and this closure has worsened the existing congestion on S.R. 44. Unique geologic and hydrologic conditions have complicated the reconstruction of Britt Road. Without cooperation from the adjoining property owners, the county does not have enough right of way to reconstruct the road. If the right of way is secured, there will be a lengthy design and permitting process involving outside agencies. The County is working on all these elements concurrently to speed up the process.”
The county outlined the following four key challenges impeding Britt Road’s opening:
- During the Britt Road washout, caused by about 15 inches of rain during Hurricane Milton, approximately 100 feet of road lengthwise was destroyed. The resulting hole is about 20 feet deep, and spring activity is present throughout the site. Repairing Britt Road requires complicated engineering that must consider the slope’s drainage patterns and the area’s environmental sensitivity.
- The county is attempting to secure right-of-entry agreements and a purchase agreement from one or more adjacent landowners to facilitate the reconstruction.
- Britt Road is a Federal-Aid Highway, meaning the county must obtain approvals from the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Florida Department of Transportation for funding grants before beginning any reconstruction. The City of Mount Dora is also an active partner. Furthermore, the St. Johns River Water Management District must also authorize permits for the reconstruction.
- The repair cost estimates range from $1 million to $2 million, and Lake County will maximize all available emergency funding to offset local costs.
The county said once the right-of-way acquisition is completed and outside agencies approve the construction plans, the construction will likely take about six months.
“I don’t want to give false hope that Britt Road will be opened in the near future,” Campione said. “But if everything goes like clockwork over the next three months, perhaps the road could be opened by the end of the summer or by fall 2025. We will keep residents apprised if the process speeds up or slows down.”
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