City of Dunkirk motorists got some smooth news last week. Department of Public Works director Randy Woodbury said Chautauqua County is planning to pave Central Avenue from Millard Fillmore Drive to the pier this year.

“Central Avenue is a county road, so we’re responsible for drainage, but we’re not responsible for repaving,” Woodbury said. “It’s long overdue.”

This winter has taken a toll on many area roads, but Central Avenue is a key connector of Dunkirk and Fredonia. For the most part, there are plans for these two communities to work closer together as part of the Central Connection initiative with the State University of New York at Fredonia.

Maybe the paving will help with relations between the municipalities, which in the past, have been bumpy to say the least.