ABSTRACT
This paper presents a case on the delays in road construction projects in Sierra Leone. It further explores the causes and effects of these delays and how such problems could possibly be combated. Through a qualitative research design, interviews were conducted with industry experts and observation also aided in the successful completion of the study.
Key words – road construction, qualitative research, interviews, industry experts
INTRODUCTION
Akbar at el (2018) observed that in construction, delay could be defined as the time overrun either beyond completion date specified in a contract or beyond the date that the parties agreed upon for delivery of a project. To the owner, delay means loss of revenue through lack of production facilities and rentable space or a dependence on present facilities. In some cases, to the contractor, delay means higher overhead costs because of longer work period, higher material costs through inflation, and due to labor cost increases.
Almost every construction project has to face delays in its execution for many reasons and causes, with consequences different from one project to another project depending on the management, technical knowledge, and skills in anticipating and managing delays (Djoen San Santoso, Sothy Soeng, Analyzing Delays of Road Construction Projects in Cambodia: Causes and Effects, 2016 American Society of Civil Engineers, DOI: 10.1061/ (ASCE) ME.1943-5479.0000467.)
Delays on construction projects are a universal phenomenon and road construction projects are no exception (Chabota Kaliba , Mundia Muya, Kanyuka Mumba, Cost escalation and schedule delays in road construction projects in Zambia, International Journal of Project Management 27 (2009) 522–531).
Most major road construction projects in Sierra Leone are funded by European Union EU and African development bank ADB. This research therefore intends to investigate the causes of the delays in road construction projects in Sierra Leone; focusing on the three stakeholders in the project, the client, consultant and the contractor.
LITERATURE REVIEW
A lot of research efforts have been made to study delay causes in different countries. For example, Odeh and Battaineh (2002), Vilventhan and Kalidindi (2016) showed that owner interference, inadequate contractor experience, financing and payments, labor productivity, slow decision making, improper planning, and sub-contractors are among ten top most important factors causing delay in Jordan; Maura et al. (2007) discovered that design errors, client liability, project specification and direct change order by the client are the major factors that cause the time and cost overrun in Portuguese; Abdul-Rahman et al. (2006) conducted a study on delay mitigation in the Malaysian construction industry; they proved that a financial problem is confirmed by the survey as the main causes of delay.
Hence, one of the most important problems in the construction industry is delay and it is essential to define the actual causes of delay in any construction project. So choosing an appropriate delay analysis method is an important part of construction industry. The famous process-based methods include the global impact, net impact, adjusted as-built CPM, as-planned expanded, but-for, snapshot, time impact, windows and isolated delay type techniques (Yang et al., 2006; Yang and Kao, 2007). These techniques are applied to prepare the logical basis to persuade their claims concerning the extension of time and financial burden but each delay analysis method adopts a different approach to identify delay impacts and may yield different results.
Many researchers have studied the causes of delay and delay analysis techniques in the construction industry. We have broken the studies into two parts: studies on causes of delay; and studies on delay analysis techniques.
Delay in construction is a global phenomenon affecting not only the construction industry but the overall economy of countries as well (Sambasvian and Soon, 2007; Parchamijalal and Shahsavand, 2016). Delays in construction are caused by several factors. Ahmed et al. (2003) grouped delays into two categories – internal causes and external causes. Internal causes arise from the parties to the contract (e.g. contractor, client, and consultant). External causes, on the other hand, arise from events beyond the control of the parties. These include the act of God, government action, and material suppliers. Sweis et al. (2008) studied the causes of delay in residential projects in Jordan and concluded that financial difficulties faced by the contractor and too many change orders by the owner are the leading causes of construction delay. Abd El-Razek et al. (2008) in a similar study in Egypt found that the most important causes of delay are financed by contractor during construction, delays in contractor’s payment by owner, design changes by owner or his agent during construction, partial payments during construction, and non-utilization of professional construction/contractual management. Sambasvian and Soon (2007) identified the delay factors and their impact on project completion in the Malaysian construction industry. The results indicated that the ten from a list of 28 different causes of delay were: contractor’s improper planning; contractor’s poor site management; inadequate contractor experience; client’s inadequate financial resources and payments for completed work; problems with subcontractors; shortage in material; labor supply; equipment availability and failure; lack of communication between parties; and mistakes during the construction stage. Assaf and Al Hejji (2006) conducted a survey on time performance of large construction projects in Saudi Arabia. The survey had 73 different causes of delay. He studied the importance of various causes from the viewpoint of contractors, consultants, and owners. The most common cause of delay identified by all the parties was “change order.” He also found that about 70 percent of the projects experienced time overruns.
The previously mentioned studies were generally focused on finding causes of delays. Some of these studies identified very limited (lacking) factors or ignored some important groups. This may be misleading or may result in wrong analysis. In this paper, through a comprehensive literature review and interviews with highly experienced construction professionals, the authors attempted to use the relative importance index (RII) method in the quantification of the relative importance of a comprehensive list of delay factors in construction projects in Iran.
Project managers and schedule (timing) analysts do often face with the problem of how to analyze the complicated delays and resolve the claims resulted from it. In addition, in most of the contracts of construction, it is not specified which method would be used to evaluate and analyze delays. On the other hand, the contractor and client have different views against analysis and determination of responsibility for delay. As a result, calculating delays and determination of responsibilities of each of the party is an important issue. Therefore, project managers must have a systematic approach for analyzing delays and allocation of responsibilities. Since there are different methods to analyze delays such as: pervasive influence technique, Bar chart or Gant chart technique, collapse technique or (but because), critical path method, time impact technique, global impact technique, net impact technique, impacted as-planned technique, collapsed as-built technique, sectional technique or snapshot technique, isolated delay type technique. So choosing an appropriate delay analysis technique for calculation of the effects of delay on project is a critical decision that is discussed in this paper (Hoshino and Livengood, 2011).
SCL has identified some factors that should be considered in choosing the method of delay analysis that includes the conditions related to the contracts, nature of causal events, value of claims, time in hand, recorded information, information of the existing time plan and planner’s experience on the project (Braimah, 2013; Yangand Kao, 2012). SCL protocol is intended to act as an aid to the interpretation of the delay and disruption provisions contained in standard of civil engineering and building contracts and to act as a guide to the manner in which the managers ought to properly prepare delay and disruption claims and how adjudicators, arbitrators and judges ought to properly determine them. The protocol does not fully reflect the provisions concerning delay and disruption contained in certain standard forms and is not intended to have contractual status, it is believed that it is at least a useful guidance document.
Arditi and Pattanakitchamroon (2006) discussed selecting a suitable delay analysis method and concluded that the most appropriate analysis method depends on information available, time of analysis and capabilities of the method, as well as time, funds and effort allocated to the analysis. Bubshait and Cunningham (1998) proposed an approach for selecting one suitable method among the as-planned method, the as-built method, and the modified as-built method. Their approach consists of four scenarios, each comprising various approved schedules (network or bar chart) with different evidence and progress reports. They concluded that method selection depends on the time and resources available, and on the accessibility of project control documentation. Mohan and Al-Gahtani (2006) discussed ten delay analysis techniques in analysis flow and compared them in resolving the issues of real time delay, concurrent delay and pacing delay. Based on study results, Mohan and Al-Gahtani proposed a desirable delay analysis system consisting of 11 requirements, such as the requirement for the project schedule to be updated every day, taking account of all delays and changes in total floats.
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines a road as “a line of communication (travelled way) using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles running on their own wheels”, which includes “bridges, tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings, interchanges, and toll roads, but not cycle paths”.
The Eurostat, ITF and UNECE Glossary for Transport Statistics Illustrated defines a road as a “Line of communication (traveled way) open to public traffic, primarily for the use of road motor vehicles, using a stabilized base other than rails or air strips. Included are paved roads and other roads with a stabilized base, e.g. gravel roads. Roads also cover streets, bridges, and tunnels, supporting structures, junctions, crossings and interchanges. Toll roads are also included. Excluded are dedicated cycle lanes.”
The 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic defines a road as the entire surface of any way or street open to public traffic.
In urban areas roads may diverge through a city or village and be named as streets, serving a dual function as urban space easement and route. Modern roads are normally smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel.
For a country like Sierra Leone, lack of adequate materials and the required human resources could also be some factors influencing delays in construction projects.
County (2006) discussed that road construction requires the creation of an engineered continuous right-of-way or roadbed, overcoming geographic obstacles and having grades low enough to permit vehicle or foot travel, and may be required to meet standards set by law or official guidelines Kimberly (2006) The process is often begun with the removal of earth and rock by digging or blasting, construction of embankments, bridges and tunnels, and removal of vegetation (this may involve deforestation) and followed by the laying of pavement material. A variety of road building equipment is employed in road building, Volvo (2007).
After design, approval, planning, legal and environmental considerations have been addressed alignment of the road is set out by a surveyor. The radii and gradient are designed and staked out to best suit the natural ground levels and minimize the amount of cut and fill. Great care is taken to preserve reference Benchmarks.
Roads are designed and built for primary use by vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Storm drainage and environmental considerations are a major concern. Erosion and sediment controls are constructed to prevent detrimental effects. Drainage lines are laid with sealed joints in the road easement with runoff coefficients and characteristics adequate for the land zoning and storm water system. Drainage systems must be capable of carrying the ultimate design flow from the upstream catchment with approval for the outfall from the appropriate authority to a watercourse, creek, river or the sea for drainage discharge.
METHODOLOGY
This study made use of a qualitative research design and had interviews and observation as research instruments. On engaging the spokesperson of the Sierra Leone Roads Authority, it was discovered that most delays are caused by the rains and because there is hardly enough manpower to fix all matters in the dries, this is why delays normally happen. It was also discovered that the local workforce is not soberly equipped to man all construction projects and as a result, government is most times left with the option of contracting foreign nationals from China and other parts of the globe.
DATA COLLECTION PROCESS
A questionnaire surveys was conducted to evaluate the relevant causes of delay in road construction projects from the perspective of the clients, contractors, and consultants within Sierra Leone. Interviews were also conducted and observation also played a part.
The construction sector comprises infrastructure, residential and business structures. Sierra Leone’s development is handicapped by the poor state of infrastructure which suffered during the civil war of 1991-2002. On assuming office in 2018, the administration of President Julius Maada Bio established the Presidential Infrastructure Initiatives (PII), supervised by the Office of the President, to provide leadership and prioritize vital infrastructure that can enhance the socio-economic development of the country, creating jobs through public–private partnerships. PII will work towards attaining the infrastructure required to transform the economy into middle-income status and self-sufficiency by 2035.
The Medium-Term National Development Plan 2019 identified major projects to be undertaken under the direction of the PII. The Lungi Bridge meant to connect the capital, Freetown to the international airport at Lungi, about 8 km, is a major priority infrastructure the government is pursuing. The bridge, revised from six to four lanes, will enhance the economic and tourism potentials of the country, and end the logistical challenges facing travelers arriving and departing Lungi.
CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY PRACTICE AND AREAS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH
Construction projects often suffer from delays due to a wide variety of reasons, which can have severe financial impact on the project. As a result, delay claims may be filed. But delays can be avoided or minimized when their causes are clearly identified. However, in case of delays the analysis of its impact, the causes, and effects of the delaying activities is one of the most complicated types of claims analysis. The aim of this paper is to identify the delay factors in construction projects and introduction type of delay analysis techniques for applying more reliable and precise techniques in order to reduce the frequency and to mitigate the severity of disputes and litigation due to delay claims because delays are considered to be a serious problem in the construction industry in Sierra Leone.
The study discovered that more funding is needed when it comes to construction projects. The required human capital (workforce) is also a necessity. These things would be in place to strategically push things and work works easier and lighter.
This research only looked at the delays in construction projects in Sierra Leone. Further studies may wish to explore the challenges that are influencing such delays etc.
