Completion rate of road construction projects in Tanzania: A case study of Ruvuma Region

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the factors affecting road projects completion rate in Tanzania. Specifically, the objectives were to identify the factors affecting road projects completion rate in Tanzania, to analyse the factors affecting completion rate of road construction projects according to their severity and to design remedial measures to address the problems in order to minimize the cost overrun of road construction projects in Tanzania. The study adopted cross-sectional research design using quantitative approaches. In addition, the study used descriptive and analytical methods in order to simplify the meaning of the findings and to assess the findings critically. A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 192 potential respondents. The respondents were identified by means of a purposive sampling technique, and the data were collected from 102 usable questionnaires. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated to determine the reliability of the measuring instruments. Frequencies and percentages were determined using SPSS software version 20, and RII was used to rank the factors and remedial measures according to their severity and importance respectively. The top most critical factors affecting road project completion rate were found to be: inadequate client’s finance and timely payments to the contractors; and lack of financial capability for the contractors. Other under medium severity level included timely decision making, lack of project management skills, political interference, highly bureaucratic process during payments by owners, and design changes. The remedial measures to alleviate the delay problems were timely payments to the contractors, allocation of adequate fund during planning stage, proper structural design and preparation of realistic cost estimates, selection of the contractors should be due to lowest evaluated bid but not due to lowest bid, engagement of financially capable contractors, timely decision making, close project monitoring and evaluation, and formation of joint ventures for contractors to increase competence, experience and capability. The study recommended that clients should secure enough fund before engaging the contractor; client should release payments to the contractors on schedule and prioritize the road construction works; and the contractors should improve their financial capacity to run the project prior to the bidding process. The formation of joint ventures for local contractors to increase competence, experience and capability was also highly recommended.