Determinants of road construction project delay in the case of Woliso–Ambo road construction

Despite delays, infrastructure development is crucial for socio-economic development and economic growth. Identifying and managing these delays increases project quality, reduces conflicts and risks, and ultimately contributes to overall development. This study summarizes the variables influencing the delay of the Woliso-Ambo Road construction project via multiple regression analysis and questionnaire surveys. With an emphasis on the Woliso-Ambo Road construction project, this paper sought to identify and examine several factors contributing to road construction delays. The data were collected from important project participants, such as project managers, engineers, contractors, and government representatives, via a questionnaire survey and unstructured interviews in addition to secondary documents. The associations between various parameters and project delays were then evaluated via multiple regression analysis of the data obtained from the questionnaire survey. The investigation considered several concerns, including escalation of material price influence, delays in the subcontractor work influence, material and equipment influence, inadequate management and supervision by consultants, and peace and security situations. The study findings showed that the Woliso-Ambo Road construction project had delays, mainly due to the increase in material price and material influence and equipment influence. The beta value of the regression reflects the direct relationship between the dependent and independent variables. The Multiple Regression model performed a strong R-value of 0.893 and an adjusted R-square of 0.797, indicating that the selected factors explained 79% of the variation in road construction delays. The results emphasize the importance of efficient planning and project management techniques to ensure the timely completion of road construction projects. The time overrun 97.4%, cost overrun 85.6%, financial loss 76.7%, company reputation 70.4%, poor quality of work 69.01%, contract relocation 65.7%, and poor quality 60.3% are the outcomes of the delays in the project areas. This study provides insightful information on the causes of delays in road construction projects and suggestions for improving project performance.