Warmer weather could lead to better roads

In 2010, the city of Raleigh spent about $300,000 on winter cleanup. Last year, it spent about $325,000.

So far, this year, the city has spent only about $3,000 for routine maintenance on machinery.

What's left over at the end of winter will go to improve local roads, Raleigh transportation infrastructure manager Chris McGee said Wednesday.

"We'll be purchasing more asphalt to do pothole patching, more concrete for repairing sidewalks and that sort of thing. It just means we're able to get more routine work done," he said.

On the state level, about $50 million is set aside each year for winter weather cleanup, according to the Department of Transportation. So far, about $4.3 million of that money has been spent.

Whatever is left over will also go toward road maintenance projects.

Although that's good for taxpayers, retailers say store shelves are staying fully stocked with winter coats, hats, gloves and other winter items.

"(The weather) definitely has impacted us, and we haven't sold through like we normally would," said Tiffany Gonsoli, manager of REI in Cary.

Bike sales, however, were up 50 percent in January, she said, adding that an earlier spring might help offset the winter clothing loss.