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Update: How Soon Could Britt Road Be Reopened?

    Lake County’s efforts to rebuild Britt Road in the East Lake County area are being hampered by a host of regulatory hurdles.  The road, washed out in early October when Hurricane Milton moved through the area, has left a popular connector road closed to through traffic.  Work to rebuild the road has gone slowly, and this week Lake County officials updated the public regarding the situation.
    The road is an important North-South collector located between State Road 44 (SR 44) and Round Lake Road, which many travelers use to access the Wekiva Parkway.
    The road closure continues to impact residents who now rely on alternative routes such as SR 44 and County Road 437 (CR 437). The traffic on SR 44 is particularly congested and challenging for those without other access to their neighborhoods.
    Lake County began working to resolve the Britt Road issues as soon as the hurricane passed, but many factors, some outside the county’s control have complicated reconstruction.
    “I understand how inconvenient this ongoing closure is,” said Lake County Chairman Leslie Campione. “Those who relied on Britt Road daily must drive further and spend more time on the road getting to work or school, and this closure has worsened the existing congestion on SR 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.”
    There are four key challenges impeding Britt Road’s reopening:
1.    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.
2.    The county is attempting to secure right-of-entry agreements and a purchase agreement from one or more adjacent landowners to facilitate the reconstruction.
3.    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.
4.    The repair cost estimates range from $1 million to $2 million, and Lake County will maximize all available emergency funding to offset local costs.
5.        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."