By Brenna R. Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

FLORENCE - Walking single file along Dream Street, Tom Hoy and his family tried to make their way from McDonald's back to their room at Motel 6.

"You just have to stay as close to the curb as you can," Hoy said. "And you have to be safe and watch the cars."

Hoy, his girlfriend, Linda Acuff, and his daughter, Holly Hoy, 14, all of Virginia, will make the dangerous walk several times this week while visiting family in Florence.

They like the convenience of the motel, which is in walking distance of at least eight restaurants, but they don't like walking on Dream Street.

Within a few months, walking along Dream Street - Florence's densest strip of hotels, restaurants and stores - will become safer.

A $2.1 million road improvement project will add 5-foot sidewalks on both sides of the road and widen the road to three lanes. Trees, landscaping, benches and a bus shelter will make the commercial strip more pedestrian-friendly, said Peter Glenn, Florence's project manager.

In addition to motel guests walking to restaurants, many people who work along the strip get off the bus at the intersection with U.S. 42, then walk to work.

"They are taking their lives in their own hands walking along Dream Street now," Glenn said. "It will be a much-needed improvement."

The project, which includes replacing the concrete street with asphalt, began last month and should be complete by the end of November.

Florence will pay about $1.1 million of the project, Boone County is paying $500,000, the Florence Water and Sewer Department will pay $260,000 for a relocated water main, and property owners along the street will pay about $243,000, said Bob Townsend, Florence public services director.

Property owners will be assessed a fee for the project based on the amount of linear footage they own along the road.

Though the final bills will not be tallied until the project is complete, Florence lawyer Ed Monohan will pay the biggest share, likely around $70,000.

"We're not delighted to spend money," said Monohan, who owns five buildings and a few lots on the road, "but the improvements should be very, very nice and something that is going to improve the appearance of Dream Street."

Joe Peeno, owner of Sub-Station II, agreed.

"We are just as happy as can be about it," said Peeno, who has owned the sub shop at the south end of the street for 22 years, "though we are fearful of the next few months."

Business owners like Peeno worry that the construction may make some customers avoid the street for the next five months.

Signs have been placed at the Ewing Boulevard end and the U.S. 42 end of Dream Street advising motorists that the road is closed to through traffic.

Another sign says all local businesses are open and accessible.

"Right now it's definitely hurting our business, but in the long run it will definitely improve it," said Jason Smith, assistant general manger of Bob Evans.

The third lane will be a turn lane, which will make it easier to drive in and out of the parking lots along the road.

"I think it will definitely improve the traffic flow around all the restaurants here," Smith said. "It's just getting there."

E-mail bkelly@enquirer.com