Ideally, a contractor finds a balanced dirt site, like the new 10,500-seat arena at St. Louis University under construction at Compton Avenue and Market Street. Balanced means the amount excavated is equal to the amount left when the project is completed.

As work progresses on the arena, mounds of dirt several stories high sit nearby.

Tony Mezines, project manager for Overland-based construction company Clayco, said earthmovers dug up 70,000 cubic yards and stockpiled it around the perimeter of the site.

Eventually, heavy equipment will move it into place around the structure.

"The university and the architect agreed to raise the finished floor of the arena about 10 feet," said Mezines. "If they had gone deeper, as originally planned, there would have been a lot of haul-off."

Balance is best

Many construction sites are not balanced.

Another Clayco project, the three-story parking garage at Washington University, required trucks to haul off 100,000 cubic yards of excavated dirt. Each cubic yard weighs 2,700 to 3,000 pounds, depending on the type of soil. A dump truck can hold eight to 10 cubic yards.

"A good dirt guy will always have a good place to put it. I just want it off my job site," said Pat Moriarity, project manager of the parking garage.