DETROIT – If you are like many Metro Detroiters, the wintry weather probably has you thinking about spring.
However, as the old saying goes, Michigan has two seasons: winter and construction. With spring less than one month away, the orange barrels are prepped and coming to a city near you.
The Michigan Department of Transportation plans to spend $187 million in road repairs this year. The makeover may be needed, but it is welcomed?
"You look at the condition of the roads anymore and it seems as if they are in some state of disrepair, so I think living in Michigan you have to get used to it," sais Michael Rossi, of Royal Oak.
Woodward Avenue throughout Ferndale and Royal Oak will be hit with orange barrels. That will affect weekend nightlife in the vibrant downtowns.
"That's going to be a huge problem. There's so many people that come out on the weekends, it backs things up, slows things down a lot," said Kris Kunihiro, of Royal Oak.
That puts a cramp on business, too. Restaurants such as Nello's Eatery fear that they will see their sales drop like they have with past construction projects.
"I would say business dropped an easy 25 percent. The faithful people do find a way. For the most part, people didn't want to be routed around the block," said Judy Berryhill, a Nello's employee.
With 80 miles of pavement and 15 bridges in the construction plan, Woodward Avenue will be a minor headache compared to other Metro Detroit areas.
2013 Metro Detroit construction breakdown
Wayne County
In Wayne County, more than two miles of M-14 will be resurfaced between Sheldon and Haggerty roads. Interstate 94 bridges and overpasses will be replaced at Telegraph Road, West Grand Boulevard and Van Dyke Road. Interstate 75 ramps also will be reconstructed at the Eureka Road interchange.
Oakland County
Pavement will be repaired on Interstate 696 from Interstate 275 to Orchard Lake and between Woodward Avenue and Dequindre Road. More than 14 miles of southbound I-75 will be resurfaced between M-15 and County Line, along with 9 miles of Dixie Highway from Telegraph Road to I-75 and more than 5 miles of Woodward Avenue between 14 Mile Road and Oakridge.
Macomb County
Five miles of I-94 between I-696 and Masonic, three miles of Groesbeck between Hayes and 14 Mile roads and four miles of M-53 between 34 Mile and Bordman roads will be repaved.
Related: 23 Mile Road to close as bridge construction begins
St. Clair County
The priciest project on the list lands in St. Clair County: a $60 million replacement of eight bridges at the I-94 and Interstate 69 interchange, including the reconstruction of both freeways.
The construction season typically starts in April or May.