Wolf Branch Road, closed since October’s record rainfall washed out streets and destroyed stormwater management systems, is projected to reopen by Friday evening or Saturday.

Lake County spokesman Jeff Foley added one ironic caveat: “providing the weather holds out for paving.”

Wolf Branch is a busy road, stretching from Mount Plymouth and Sorrento to Mount Dora and U.S. Highway 441.

The National Weather Service in Melbourne is predicting only 35 percent chance of showers Thursday and Friday, with mostly dry conditions afterward.

That’s a far cry from the estimated 18 to 20 inches that bombed Eustis and Mount Dora in four hours on the night of Oct. 26.

Eustis roads affected by the storm, including Lakeshore Drive, Hazzard Street, Morningside Drive and Creek Run Lane are restored.

The rainfall crushed a bridge and culverts serving Spring Ridge Estates, forcing the evacuation of 21 residents. Eustis City Commissioners voted to spend up to $700,000 to repair the damage that threatened a lift station serving 120 residents.

The storm swept away a portion of Donnelly Street in a deep ravine in Mount Dora, stranding drivers and pushing one car to the edge of the deep ravine where the road washed out. Because Donnelly is a major thoroughfare, it is a priority.

Reconstruction will include a sidewalk along the west side of the street, which was planned prior to the storm. That sidewalk will be built at the city’s expense but is supported by a $1.3 million grant that was awarded to the city prior to the storm.

“The City of Mount Dora continues to move forward with recovery and reconstruction efforts following recent flooding,” says George Marek, the city’s public works director in an email. “Because boardwalk plans already exist for the area, this process is expected to move forward at an expedited rate. Once the rebuild engineering work is complete, the City anticipates issuing an expedited construction bid — a 14-day process.”

The city is seeking up to 80 percent reimbursement from the Federal Highway Administration Emergency Relief program.

In addition to roadway and boardwalk reconstruction, the project will include installation of new reclaimed water lines, stormwater drainage improvements, and underground electric conduit from Limit Avenue to Waterman Village

“The city is also working closely with an engineering consultant to develop mitigation plans for the Old Eustis Road, Chautauqua and Highlands neighborhoods, which experienced flooding impacts. These plans aim to improve long-term stormwater management and reduce the risk of future flooding events in these residential areas,” he says.

The city hired an engineering firm at a cost of about $75,000 to prepare plans to restore two subdivision retention ponds that burst during the storm. “We do not know the cost to restore the two ponds yet, but it could reach $1 million combined,” he said.

 The City is seeking a fee proposal right now from the engineer who designed the pond that burst at the Limit Avenue Public Works complex. That cost could exceed $2 million.

Workers are also removing sediment at the city’s Thrill Hill property at a cost of about $90,000.

Waterman Village experienced severe damage to its stormwater facilities, but those are privately owned and being repaired by Waterman

Marek was quick to point out that the cost estimates are for the city. “It does not include the damages suffered by untold number of residents throughout the City who continue to clean up their property after this disaster.”