The San Jacinto River Authority announced Dec. 20 that the opening of the segment of Research Forest Drive between Shadowbend Place and Grogan's Mill Road has been delayed two weeks. Rather than re-opening Jan. 1 as has been projected, the segment will now open in mid-January.

"Despite an extraordinary effort expended over the past three months, including 24-hour operations and extra crews, the current schedule for completion of water line construction on Research Forest Drive between Shadowbend and Grogan's Mill has been delayed due to inclement weather impacts," the SJRA announced in a release.

The SJRA also announced that in order to accommodate the delay in schedule and minimize any traffic impacts, the start of construction on the next water line segment along Grogan's Mill Road between Research Forest and Woodlands Parkway will be delayed two weeks so that there will be no overlap in lane closures on the two major thoroughfares.

In November, the SJRA agreed to spend an additional $1 million to move up the timeline for construction on the segment of Research Forest Drive to Grogan's Mill Road in order to complete the segment by Jan. 1.

The SJRA is installing water pipeline along Research Forest Drive and Grogan's Mill Road as part of The Lone Star Conservation District's mandate that the region lessen its reliance on groundwater by 30 percent by 2016.

For more information on the project, visit www.sjra.net/grp.