Drive the equipment and any other long lead items (permits, easements, access, etc.). If there is one focus item, it should be the equipment. Both design and construction depend upon timely output from your vendors.
If you don’t pursue an aggressive campaign of requisitioning, procurement, and expediting, you can count on having problems meeting your deadlines. If you show a sense of urgency early—urgency with purpose—it will stand you in good stead throughout the life of the project.
This is not hurry for the sake of hurrying. It is moving with all deliberate speed in a well thought out direction. It is urgency with purpose.