You almost need a master's degree to figure out how to avoid all the construction projects going on at Michigan State University right now.

MSU has more than nine major projects and dozens of smaller ones underway.

The University says when students move out, construction moves in.

"We try to put our big projects that have the largest impacts to motorists and pedestrians in the summer months when weather's more favorable for construction activity and the campus population shrinks," Karen Zelt, with MSU's Physical Plant said.

Zelt says the reconstruction of steam tunnels on West Circle and Chesnut will be the most challenging for travelers. The project will replace deteriorating tunnels and lines to supply reliable steam service to north campus, but will also involve several phases and road closures all summer.

Drivers will also be impacted by a City of East Lansing project, which is reconstructing Harrison Road from Trowbridge to Mount Hope.

Other campus area work includes the Wells Hall addition, replacement of scoreboards and sound systems at Spartan Stadium, an addition to the existing Life Science building, the demolition of the Michigan State Police post and renovations to the Music Building auditorium.

Construction won't begin this summer on the FRIB research facility, but you wouldn't know that looking at the site.

"The subterranean structure is about 750 feet long, about 62 feet wide and about 40 feet deep and the surface structure is the same length but even wider," Brad Bull, who works on the FRIB project said.

Bull says crews are preparing the site now, clearing trees and moving utilties. They're hoping to begin excavation in October.

"Things are overlapping, they're dynamic projects," Zelt explained.

MSU crews say detours are clearly marked on campus, but advise visitors and students to give themselves extra time to reach their destinations this summer.

They say while the orange may look excessive on campus, the amount of work being done this season is fairly typical.

"We know it's not always fun, but there is an end in sight," Zelt said.

The University says most projects, and the detours they cause, will wrap up in mid August.