RALEIGH, N.C. — Two construction projects will be sure to test people's patience in downtown Raleigh.

Crews are just starting work on Raleigh's new convention center. There will be barricades, detours and lane closures for at least the next two years.

Portions of Cabarrus and Salisbury streets will shut down throughout the construction. McDowell and Dawson streets, the main north-south routes through town, will stay open during peak hours. There will be weekend and night lane closures.

Every day, drivers will be affected in some way, while others may not.

"The Legislature in session -- you have a lot of visitors here. You have a lot of buses coming in and bringing kids to museums, so there'll be a lot of people impacted by this that they don't come downtown every day," said Margaret Mullen, of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance.

Another construction project in downtown Raleigh is expected to cause some traffic hassles. Crews are about to open Fayetteville Street Mall to traffic. The city's convention center detour will bring motorists into Fayetteville Street Mall construction.

Raleigh's detour takes you down Salisbury Street to Davie Street, across from Fayetteville Street Mall. You may want to take Jones Street to Blount Street, passing all the construction.

The first lane closures are set for Feb. 15. Raleigh transportation engineers say they will hold a public information session on detours and lane closures a few days before construction starts.