Analysis of factors influencing delay and quality of roads construction projects in Rwanda

Abstract

Road construction industry provide sustainable economic development, transport enhances productivity and output, facilitates movement of people and goods, and improves access to social services like recreation, education, health services. Generally road network is platform of economic development. Since year 2010, RTDA has more than 50 projects concerning the construction of roads and bridges. The project management requires the application of knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to project activities to meet the project requirements. Roads Construction projects in Rwanda suffer from many problems and complex issues in performance such as time and quality. It is also very important to know the significant factors which can cause any change on the quality, time as well as the cost on initial project planning and also be able to manage any change, when it occurs. The aim of this research is to identify and analyze the factors affecting the performance of road construction in Rwanda, specifically emphasize on factors affecting delay and quality. To achieve the objectives of the research, different variables affecting delay and quality of road projects were identified 73 and 71 respectively through literature review and discussions with professionals working in the field of road construction. The research was carried out into three stages; first The questionnaire survey targeted to 64 sampled professionals working in different institution in Rwanda (contractors, consultants as well as people working in public sectors/owners) was carried out for preliminary survey to reduce the variables (factors), whereby data collected by using questionnaires and analyzed with statistical analysis (Weighted mean). Furthermore, a second detailed survey with 10 Experts was carried out by applying a MCDM (pairwise comparison) with Fuzzy AHP Approach to get the final weight of each variable. The third one, results from the second stage have been compared to the actual situation of 14 selected projects managed by RTDA. The study showed that most of the key significant factors are related to the design, Consultants, owners/Clients and contractors. The reach provides recommendations for improving the performance of roads construction projects to contractors, consultants and owners.