Investigating costs caused by delaying construction projects: a case study of TANROADS Projects

Delays to construction projects are becoming a major problem in Tanzania construction industry. Further, Causes and financial implications of these delays have not been fully understood. This research aimed at investigating factors that cause delays and the costs arising out of these for road projects undertaken by TANROADS. In this study, data were collected by interviewing forty-three (43) respondents, twenty seven (27) of whom were from TANROADS and the then Ministry of Works, while sixteen (16) respondents were from twelve (12) different construction projects. The study also examined selected TANROADS road projects as case studies to supplement the interview data. The interviewees included senior management officials, projects engineers, projects managers, site engineers, supervisors, road users, and selected professionals who have either previously worked with or have done business with TANROADS. Some of the key results from the interviews and observations were spotted out as lack of costs and time consciousness of the stakeholders to all stages of construction and also conflicts among stakeholders. From the sampling results, this study has established that between 80% to 95% of TANROADS construction projects costs due to variations are caused by delays where 93% of respondent agreed that lack of cost and time consciousness of the key stakeholders in TANROADS, are the results of delays in construction projects. The study recommended that intensified actions including stakeholder involvement is necessary, fast and informed decision making, and reduction of conflicts among key stakeholders, would reduce this problem. These have to be done throughout the project lifecycle.