The Sports & Exhibition Authority board today awarded $52.4 million in contracts for the new Penguins arena, signaling that construction is nearing its start.

SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo said contractors should begin mobilizing on the site at Fifth Avenue and Washington Place by mid-month, and construction-related earth moving should begin by the end of the month or early August.

The five contracts awarded today are the first involving the actual construction.

They included earth moving, caisson work, precast concrete, structural steel and elevators and escalators

The $52.4 million represents about 25 percent of the total construction budget.

With the award of the contracts today, Ms. Conturo said the arena is on schedule to be completed by the start of the 2010-11 hockey season.

Also today, the SEA board authorized the sale of a vacant lot on Federal Street on the North Side to Krasta Properties for $500,000.

The site will be used for a 10-story, 135-room Holiday Inn Express hotel.