Analysis study on causes of time and cost overruns throughout road construction projects life cycle in Rwanda: The case of Kigali city roads

Abstract

Like any other Civil Engineering project, road construction projects are complex with variability and involve various stakeholders such as owners, contractors, sub-contractors, consultants, funders, professionals, local communities. Stakeholders in Rwanda have experienced time and cost overruns in road construction projects. The key features that define road construction project success are time and cost management over the project execution period. These two items enable project stakeholders to understand the activities, resources, and time required to meet project goals, as well as the disbursements needed to complete the project to the content of the customer. The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze the factors that cause the delays and cost overruns throughout the road construction project life cycle in Rwanda; to recommend the best project delivery and management practice that can be applied in Rwanda for time and cost-effective road construction. The study used a descriptive survey by collecting data using a designed questionnaire. The research sample was purposely chosen from road construction projects and professionals working from the senior stakeholders namely contractors, consultants and owner’s firms, and other highway experts involved in road construction in Rwanda, particularly in Kigali City. The professionals that were considered are mainly the Project directors, project managers, construction managers, project planners, Quantity surveyors, contract managers/administrators, Quality assurance and quality control Engineers, project/Site engineers, pavement engineers, material engineers, and design engineers. The results were analyzed, compared, regressed and recommendation on best practice to improve time and cost management over the road projects was given. The study revealed that delayed land acquisition, delayed relocation of the utilities; additional works, variation works, contractor’s poor planning, and site management are on top of causes of the time and cost overruns. Employers’(owners) factors were ranked first in contributing to delays and cost overruns whereas, external factors, contractors’ factors, and consultants ‘factors were ranked second, third and fourth respectively. To overcome delays and cost overruns, the researcher and respondents recommended the adoption of Lean Design and Construction (LDC) in road construction in the road construction life cycle in Rwanda.