The San Jacinto River Authority has moved up the deadline to complete construction of about 1.5 miles of pipeline installation on Research Forest Drive between Shadowbend Place and Grogan's Mill Road. Crews are now working 24/7 to complete the project by Jan. 1.

Construction on the entire Research Forest Drive portion of the project, which stretches from Branch Crossing Drive to Grogan's Mill Road, began in late summer and was expected to last about 18 months. The 1.5-mile stretch of Research Forest Drive between Shadowbend Drive and Grogan's Mill Road has traffic diverted from the eastbound lanes to the westbound lanes, where traffic travels in each direction. A center turn lane remains open.

"The original schedule called for that section [between Shadowbend Place and Grogan's Mill Road] to last 171 days," said Mark Smith, SJRA administrator for the Groundwater Reduction Plan. "That has been shortened to 73 days."

Smith said the new deadline would be met by the construction firm hiring additional crewmembers, who are working around the clock. The cost to accelerate the construction schedule along Research Forest Drive was $1.2 million.

Ronda Trow, public relations director for the SJRA, said the affected lanes are scheduled to re-open by Jan. 1, but weather could delay completion of the project. Trow also said residents along Research Forest Drive should expect increased noise and nighttime lighting as crews work.

Smith and Trow said among the reasons for the advanced deadline was to lessen any potential negative impact lane closures would have on area businesses, particularly those in the Cochran's Crossing Village Center.

"We've been working with them for months, and there was some anxiety coming from those business owners. That was a reason why, at the 11th hour, we decided to accelerate construction in that area," Trow said.

While construction crews are working to finish the Research Forest Drive project, about a 1-mile stretch of Grogan's Mill Road between Woodlands Parkway and South Millbend Drive is also closed for pipeline installation.

Smith said that project likely would not be ideal for a 24/7 construction schedule.

"Part of [the reason] is cost, the other is 24/7 does not work on Grogan's Mill because there is so much residential development adjacent to it," he said. "It would be too disruptive. Research Forest is all commercial."

Smith said the traffic volume of Research Forest Drive is about 40,000 vehicles per day.

"Grogan's Mill is a major road, but it's not at that level," he said.

The project is part of the SJRA's Groundwater Reduction Program, which includes installation of more than 55 miles of new water pipes throughout south Montgomery County and Conroe. The GRP is in response to a state law that mandates communities reduce their reliance on groundwater by 30 percent by 2016.

The new pipelines will distribute water to south Montgomery County communities from Lake Conroe, where the SJRA is currently constructing a new water treatment facility.

For the latest information on the SJRA Groundwater Reduction Plan, including lane closures and updated schedules, visit www.sjra.net.