Work on the new jail and justice center in downtown Austin is about two to four weeks ahead of schedule, though that pace could slow.

County coordinator Craig Oscarson said Tuesday that he was pleased with progress of the new facility.

However, fall weather and the different schedules associated with the project’s various contracts could bring the pace back down a bit, Oscarson said.

Well-drilling at the geothermal heating field — which took the spot of the “Robbins block” — is also making good time, as Oscarson noted that the 96 wells would be drilled by the end of the day Tuesday.

Next, the wells will have to be inspected and some horizontal drilling will have to be done.

The 128-bed, roughly $29 million jail and justice center is scheduled for completion in July 2010.