What Is Pre-Construction Timeline Planning?

Mastering Pre-Construction Timeline Planning

What is preconstruction timeline planning—and why is it so critical? In this blog, we’ll break down the importance of managing multiple timelines during pre-construction to ensure your project stays on track and flows smoothly from start to finish.

You might have a solid production plan that outlines when construction should begin and how to maintain flow, but behind that plan are several critical timelines. Think switchgear, permanent power, internet access, long-lead material procurement, exterior finishes, elevators—the list goes on. Each of these elements must be tracked and managed with precision.

As Fred Strasser from Oakland Construction wisely put it, “Don’t fall asleep on that timeline.” Managing these components is truly an art form—an essential focus during the pre-construction phase.

Let’s dive into how we approached timeline management for our West Fillmore project in Buckeye, Arizona. Using Miro (although tools like Excel, Visio, Bluebeam, or even Microsoft Whiteboard also work), we visually mapped out every timeline—complete with team responsibilities, key phases, and critical dates.

On the left side of the board, we placed photos of those accountable for various tasks, and across the top, we charted time. This macro-phase Takt plan covered the civil phase, clubhouse foundations, and multiple buildings—shaping the structure of our production plan.

But here’s where many teams go wrong: they overlook the importance of managing timelines in this early phase. Owners, design teams, or even general contractors often fail to realize the value of trade partner input or early GC involvement in shaping and aligning timelines during pre-construction.

Let’s consider one key timeline: electrical distribution. We tracked the timeline for releasing switchgear—from the desired date to the last responsible moment. The coordination with APS (Arizona Public Service) was tightly synced to ensure we’d receive permanent power on schedule.

By tracking this visually, we knew when design details and approvals were needed, and we could proactively drive those deadlines with the design team. The result? We hit our release date and stayed on course.

And when APS announced a change in responsibilities—introducing a timeline shift—we quickly compared our original visuals with the updated projections. That gave us a real-time way to alert the owner and adjust accordingly. It became a navigational tool—a map and compass—so we weren’t just reacting, we were steering.

This is the essence of timeline planning: pairing your production plan with critical long-lead timelines, and never letting those timelines out of your sight.

Key Takeaway:

Successful pre-construction requires more than just a solid production plan—it demands proactive timeline planning for every critical element. By visualizing and managing these timelines early, teams can prevent delays, drive coordination, and keep the entire project on track from day one.-