The dirt will soon fly in St. Paul’s Midway, and that’s good news for soccer fans.

Mortenson Construction, the stadium builder contracted to build a 20,000-seat Major League Soccer venue for Minnesota United, has received a building permit from the city of St. Paul for initial site grading, excavation and soil cleanup on the southern end of the site.

Much of the blighted, vacant land overlooking Interstate 94 is owned by the Metropolitan Council and once housed a bus storage facility that was demolished in 2002. The permits also cover earthwork on vacant land next door owned by RD Management.

The dirt will soon fly. pic.twitter.com/15YqemJmgx — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) June 14, 2017

The city permit, issued Tuesday, lists a backdated “estimated start date” of May 5 and an estimated completion date of Feb. 28, 2019. Under that timetable, Minnesota United will likely play two complete seasons at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium this year and next.

While United fans have been waiting with bated breath for news of stadium construction that was once expected to begin in May or June of last year, the latest building permit is more of a hopeful sign than definitive proof of life.

The work permit makes clear that it does not cover the construction of an actual stadium, or even major utility work, or the long-planned redevelopment of the neighboring Midway Shopping Center.

It states: “This permit covers only the scope of work for grading, for remediation of soils, and for minor utility demolition. … Separate zoning approvals are required for all additional phases under separate permits.”

… but only initial dirt removal, no actual stadium work permitted yet. pic.twitter.com/BjB0yVKHDD — FredMelo, Reporter (@FrederickMelo) June 14, 2017

At an estimated development cost of $150 million, the stadium is expected to span roughly 10 acres, with its northern edges sitting where the Rainbow Foods grocery store is currently located. Together with the shopping center and neighboring vacant land, the entire development site spans 35 acres. Related Articles St. Paul City Council approves $600,000 charge for downtown improvement district

Frogtown Community Center unveils new artificial turf field, playground and outdoor fun

West Side pedestrian bridge mural debuts 6 p.m. Monday

St. Paul City Council debates halting charter school bond requests for six months

St. Paul City Council relaxes housing density restrictions near transit corridors

The stadium will be constructed by the team and conveyed to the city of St. Paul. A recent call to Mortenson Construction was referred to Minnesota United.

Team ownership has offered limited comment on issues delaying stadium construction. Officials close to the project have confirmed that Rainbow and neighboring properties sit on separate individual tax parcels within the Midway Shopping Center, each with its own mortgages and tenant agreements that need to be paid up or renegotiated before redevelopment moves forward.

In late May, team owner Dr. Bill McGuire said, “The understanding (is) that there is some mortgages on some of the properties and those have to be honored. I don’t think it’s so much a problem as it’s just timing issues.”