It’s getting down and dirty at the site of the planned $46 million multi-faceted athletic complex at Orange Beach Middle/High School.

As in deep into the earth and bringing out dirt that’s unsuitable for building on at a cost of several million dollars, Superintendent Randy Wilkes said.

“It depends on the area,” Wilkes said. “In some as much as 10 feet in small areas. It could be four feet, six feet. It’s one of those things we’ve had to constantly monitor. Southern Earth Sciences is our Geotech group and they are on site quite a bit making sure that we get the bad soil out and leave the good soil.”

When the dirt is replaced with better quality and buildable soil, the grade of Canal Road will be a determining factor of how much is put back in.

“When you think of the median of Canal being at 10 feet and we’re going to have to build the foundation back to 13 and a half feet so that it’s above the center of the road,” Wilkes said. “And, if you’re at 11 or 12 feet, now you’re taking 10 feet out and you’ve got to bring it back to 13 and a half. If you do all that math, it’s quite a bit of dirt. It’s millions of dollars in just dirt work.”

Southern Earth Sciences started the project by doing borings at the site to determine where the bad dirt needed to be replaced.

“You can’t bore every square foot so they’re out there making decisions really every day as to what needs to come out,” Wilkes said.

Most of the dirt work is taking place close to Canal Road where the first of many buildings will be going up east of the parking lot on the east side of the Performing Arts Center.

“We’re working it from the north side to the south side working on excavating the bad dirt and bringing in good dirt,” Wilkes said. “As soon as we get that we’ll start on some footers and so forth.

“A gymnasium in that corner and there will be a lot of open space. I feel pretty certain that we’ll get started on the kinesiology building or the strength and conditioning building will be second.”

Plans call for a competition gymnasium, multipurpose pavilion, multi-sport field house, track and football stadium on the property. See related story.