Introduction
A. Background of the Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project
The Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project is a significant infrastructure
development initiative aimed at improving transportation connectivity and facilitating economic
growth in the East Hararghe Zone of the Oromia region in Ethiopia. The project involves the
construction of a new asphalt road stretching from Arberekete to Gelemso, spanning a
considerable distance and connecting several communities along the route.
The need for this road construction project arises from the inadequate transportation
infrastructure in the region, which hinders access to essential services, markets, and opportunities
for local residents. The existing road network is often unpaved, poorly maintained, and prone to
damage, leading to challenges in mobility, transportation of goods, and overall socio-economic
development.
The Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project is envisioned to address these
challenges by providing a durable, all-weather road that enhances connectivity between rural
areas, urban centers, and key economic hubs. The project is expected to reduce travel times,
transportation costs, and vehicle maintenance expenses, thereby improving access to education,
healthcare, markets, and other vital services for the local population.
Furthermore, the construction of this asphalt road is anticipated to stimulate economic activities
along the route, creating employment opportunities, attracting investments, and fostering
sustainable development in the region. By enhancing transportation infrastructure, the project
aims to promote social inclusion, reduce poverty, and enhance the overall quality of life for
residents in the East Hararghe Zone.
However, like many infrastructure projects, the Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road
Construction Project may face challenges such as delays, budget constraints, environmental
impacts, and community resistance. Understanding these potential obstacles and developing
effective strategies to address them will be crucial for the successful completion and long-term
sustainability of the project.
B. Importance of studying delays in construction projects
Delays in construction projects are a common and significant challenge that can have far-
reaching implications on project outcomes, including cost overruns, schedule extensions, and
quality issues. Understanding the importance of studying delays in construction projects is
crucial for mitigating risks, improving project management practices, and enhancing overall
project performance. By analyzing the causes, impacts, and potential solutions for delays,
stakeholders can proactively address issues, optimize resource allocation, and ensure
successful project delivery. This introduction sets the stage for exploring the critical role of
studying delays in construction projects and the benefits of effectively managing and
minimizing their impact on project outcomes.
C. Purpose and objectives of the pilot study
D. Scope and limitations
II. Literature Review
A. Previous studies on delays in construction projects
The main causes of delays in construction projects from clients' perspective are poor
communication between contractors and investors, and minimizing these dependencies can help
minimize the risk of delays.
Głuszak, M., & Leśniak, A. (2015). Construction Delays in Clients Opinion – Multivariate
Statistical Analysis. Procedia Engineering, 123, 182-189.
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROENG.2015.10.075.
Delays in construction projects are caused by factors such as poor communication between client
and contractor, poor planning, and poor scheduling, with potential solutions to avoid delays
through existing time and cost forecasting methods.
Manzur, A., Ganesan, N., & Vinay, M. (2016). A Study on Delays in Construction Projects.
Applied Mechanics and Materials, 857, 24 - 29.
https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.857.24.
Slow decision-making, poor site management, labor shortages, changes in scope, and late
revisions of design documents are major causes of construction project delays.
Romzi, N., & Ing, D. (2022). Underlying Causes of Construction Project Delay: A Review.
CONSTRUCTION. https://doi.org/10.15282/construction.v2i2.7775.
Financial crisis, security situation, slow pace of work, lack of detailed plan, materials supplying
delays, inaccuracy in time schedules, design errors, and design changes during execution are the
top ten significant factors of delay in construction projects in Iraq.
Taraziya, R., & Ali, R. (2020). Survey on the Most Significant Factors Affecting the Delivery
Process of Construction Activities During Execution Phase in Iraq. International Review of Civil
Engineering (IRECE). https://doi.org/10.15866/irece.v11i3.17700.
Delays in construction projects can be categorized into three types: unexpected delays, planned
delays, and actions not timely.
Nagata, M., Manginelli, W., Lowe, J., & Trauner, T. (2018). Types of Construction Delays. , 73-
82. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-811244-1.00004-5.
Delays in construction projects in Hargeisa are mainly caused by payment delays,
underestimation of project costs, and work scope changes.
Fashina, A., Omar, M., Sheikh, A., & Fakunle, F. (2021). Exploring the significant factors that
influence delays in construction projects in Hargeisa. Heliyon, 7.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06826.
Adopting communication, management, information systems, law enforcement, and financial
strategies can effectively reduce construction project delays and impact the industry and
economy.
Aziz, N., Rahim, F., & Aziz, N. (2022). DELAY MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND THE
IMPLICATION ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE
REVIEW. PLANNING MALAYSIA. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v20i24.1199.
B. Causes of delays in construction projects
Delays in construction projects can lead to cost overruns, time overruns, termination of contract,
arbitration, and litigation.
Gebrehiwet, T., & Luo, H. (2017). Analysis of Delay Impact on Construction Project Based on
RII and Correlation Coefficient: Empirical Study. Procedia Engineering, 196, 366-374.
https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PROENG.2017.07.212.
The five most significant factors affecting the completion of road construction projects in Libya
are utility service delays, budget availability, short contract duration, progress payments delays,
and subsurface conditions.
Alfakhri, A., Ismail, A., Azry, K., Arhad, I., & Irtema, H. (2017). A conceptual model of delay
factors affecting road construction projects in Libya. journal of engineering science and
technology, 12, 3286-3298.
Delays in construction projects can create cost and time overruns, and disputes between client
and contractor.
Manzur, A., Ganesan, N., & Vinay, M. (2016). A Study on Delays in Construction Projects.
Applied Mechanics and Materials, 857, 24 - 29.
https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.857.24.
Delays in construction projects are expensive and can result in severe damages to involved
parties.
Kenjale, P. (2019). Statistical Analysis of Delay Factors and Success Factors on Building
Construction Projects. International Journal of Advance Research and Innovative Ideas in
Education, 5, 850-854.
D. Strategies for mitigating delays in construction projects
Effective site management, strategic planning, and clear communication channels can minimize
construction delays and reduce time and cost overruns in projects.
Daripa, J. (2022). Impacts of Delays in Project Completion in Terms of Time and Cost.
International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology.
https://doi.org/10.22214/ijraset.2022.45788.
Greater use of Project Time Management processes in construction projects in Mexico is
statistically associated with timely completion.
Solís-Carcaño, R., Corona-Suárez, G., & García-Ibarra, A. (2015). The Use of Project Time
Management Processes and the Schedule Performance of Construction Projects in Mexico.
Journal of Construction Engineering, 2015, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/868479.
Five leading aspects of strategies to reduce construction project delays are communication,
management, information systems and technology, enforcement of law and order, and financials.
Aziz, N., Rahim, F., & Aziz, N. (2022). DELAY MITIGATION STRATEGIES AND THE
IMPLICATION ON THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY: A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE
REVIEW. PLANNING MALAYSIA. https://doi.org/10.21837/pm.v20i24.1199.
Digital tools and associated technologies may prevent delay in construction projects by
addressing resources, project context, stakeholder performance, and external factors.
Sepasgozar, S., Karimi, R., Shirowzhan, S., Mojtahedi, M., Ebrahimzadeh, S., & McCarthy, D.
(2019). Delay Causes and Emerging Digital Tools: A Novel Model of Delay Analysis, Including
Integrated Project Delivery and PMBOK. Buildings.
https://doi.org/10.3390/BUILDINGS9090191.
In successful projects, owners and contractors weighted similar causes of delay and suggested
mitigation strategies like close project supervision, capacity building training, and proper
logistics management.
Banobi, E., & Jung, W. (2019). Causes and Mitigation Strategies of Delay in Power Construction
Projects: Gaps between Owners and Contractors in Successful and Unsuccessful Projects.
Sustainability. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11215973.
The integrated balanced scorecard and quality function deployment framework helps prioritize
and reduce construction delays by focusing on customer- and contractor-related factors.x
Gunduz, M., & Al-Naimi, N. (2021). Construction projects delay mitigation using integrated
balanced scorecard and quality function deployment. Engineering, Construction and
Architectural Management. https://doi.org/10.1108/ECAM-12-2020-1082.
Adopting technologies like planning, imaging, geo-spatial data collection, machine learning, and
optimization can help address specific delay causes in construction projects.
Gurgun, A., Koc, K., & Kunkcu, H. (2022). Exploring the adoption of technology against delays
in construction projects. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management.
https://doi.org/10.1108/ecam-06-2022-0566.
Real-time technologies like IoT, sensors, and smartphones can significantly alter delay
management in construction projects by acquiring, screening, analyzing, and presenting
information through an Industry 4.0 application.
Radman, K., Jelodar, M., Lovreglio, R., Ghazizadeh, E., & Wilkinson, S. (2022). Digital
technologies and data-driven delay management process for construction projects. , 8.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fbuil.2022.1029586.
Communication could be a key strategy to resolve major delay causes in planning and design
phases of construction projects.
Halim, A., & Zin, R. (2016). CAUSES OF DELAY IN THE PLANNING AND DESIGN
PHASES FOR PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. , 28.
https://doi.org/10.11113/MJCE.V28N3.438.
III. Research Methodology
A. Research design (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, mixed methods)
B. Data collection methods (e.g., surveys, interviews, document analysis)
C. Sampling technique and sample size
D. Data analysis techniques
IV. Causes of Delay in the Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project
A. Identification of potential causes based on literature review
B. Field investigation to confirm causes specific to the project
V. Effects of Delay in the Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project
A. Impact on project timeline
B. Cost implications
C. Social and environmental effects
D. Stakeholder perspectives on the effects of delay
VI. Analysis and Discussion
A. Quantitative analysis of data collected
B. Qualitative analysis of interviews and other qualitative data
C. Comparison of findings with literature review
D. Discussion of implications and recommendations
VII. Conclusion
A. Summary of key findings
B. Implications for the Arberekete to Gelemso Asphalt Road Construction Project
C. Recommendations for future research and project management
VIII. References
A. List of all sources cited in the pilot study
IX. Appendices
A. Copies of survey instruments or interview protocols
B. Additional data tables or figures
C. Any other supplementary material
Section 1: Identifying Causes of Delays
1. Poor communication between contractors and investors significantly contributes to delays
in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neutral
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree
2. Inadequate project funding is a primary cause of delays in the Arberekete to Gelemso
asphalt road construction project.
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neutral
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree
3. Late decision-making by project stakeholders is a major cause of delays in the Arberekete
to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neutral
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree
4. Poor site management practices significantly contribute to delays in the Arberekete to
Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neutral
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree
5. Change orders during project execution often lead to delays in the Arberekete to Gelemso
asphalt road construction project.
1. Strongly Agree
2. Agree
3. Neutral
4. Disagree
5. Strongly Disagree
Section 2: Examining Effects of Delays
6. Delays in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project have a substantial
impact on the overall progress of the project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
7. Delays in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project often lead to cost
overruns.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
8. Rushed construction activities due to time pressure often result in substandard project
quality in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
9. Delayed payments from clients significantly disrupt the supply chain and lead to work
stoppages in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
10. Increased project durations due to delays result in additional expenses related to labor,
equipment, and materials in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
Section 3: Proposing Mitigation Strategies
11. Effective site management and strategic planning can help minimize delays in the
Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
12. Adopting advanced technologies like IoT and sensors can help in better monitoring and
management of the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road construction project, thereby
reducing delays.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
13. Close coordination and collaboration among project stakeholders are essential for timely
decision-making and preventing delays in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road
construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
14. Implementing robust contract management practices can mitigate delays by addressing
issues related to scope creep and change orders in the Arberekete to Gelemso asphalt road
construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
15. Regular monitoring and evaluation of project progress against established milestones can
help in early identification and mitigation of potential delays in the Arberekete to
Gelemso asphalt road construction project.
Strongly Agree
Agree
Neutral
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
