The company that made, inspected and assessed the Metrodome’s collapsed roof stands poised to be approved today to replace it for around $25 million.

Meanwhile, business groups east of the Mississippi River are lining up in support of building a new Minnesota Vikings stadium in Arden Hills.

Predicting “profound economic benefits for our region,” the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce on Thursday joined the chamber representing businesses in the north suburbs in supporting Ramsey County’s pursuit of a new stadium on the site of a former Army ammunition plant.

The paradox of spending millions to fix the aging Dome as campaigns grow for a new stadium is the result of the Vikings still having a year left on their Metrodome lease — and no new stadium could be built for several years.

This afternoon, the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which owns the Dome, will likely award New York-based Birdair Inc. a contract to remove the existing roof and install a new one in time — officials hope — for the Vikings preseason.

Birdair was the sole responder to the commission’s request for proposals from the few firms qualified to do such work.

Earlier this month, the commission approved spending $18.3 million for a new roof to replace the one that collapsed under the weight of a 17-inch December snowfall. On Thursday, the commission’s finance committee approved a resolution that included the $25 million figure.

Bill Lester, executive director of the sports facilities commission, explained that the actual cost of the new roof will be about $18.3 million, but the project’s total cost, which includes engineering work and other associated expenses, led to the higher figure. The exact amount of Birdair’s bid won’t be made public until this afternoon.

The commission is anticipating that virtually the entire cost will be paid for by its insurance provider, FM Global, though the insurer hasn’t made a final determination on the claim, Lester said. The commission will pay a $25,000 deductible.

It’s unclear how soon the work can begin. Birdair’s proposed timeline will be made public today.

“It’s going to be pretty tight to make it before preseason,” Lester said. Vikings exhibition games start in early August. “It assumes we don’t get a tsunami or something else that delays the work.”

Regardless, the Vikings want a new stadium, and anticipation is growing in the state Legislature as lawmakers await an official proposal on what will likely be a construction project in the neighborhood of $1 billion.

The leading contenders appear to be either on or near the Dome site in Minneapolis, in Arden Hills near Interstate 35W and U.S. 10, and in Minneapolis near the Minnesota Twins’ new Target Field.

Ramsey County commissioners have approved officially negotiating with the Vikings and spending money to study stadium possibilities for the site of the abandoned Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant.

Sarah Horner contributed to this report.

ONLINE

Read the chamber of commerce letters in support of an Arden Hills stadium at CityHallScoop.com.