Investigating the Causal Factors Contributing to Slow Site Clearance and Their Effects on Road Construction Costs and Timelines

Vietnam has been investing heavily in infrastructure to support its economic and social development. However, slow site clearance (SSC) is a common issue affecting the progress and efficiency of infrastructure projects. This study explores the primary causes of SSC and develops a model to assess its impact on project efficiency. SSC factors were identified through a literature review and expert opinions, and a structured questionnaire was used to survey project personnel. The results highlighted five key SSC-related factors: inadequate land recovery enforcement, prolonged clearance processes, imbalanced compensation policies, unclear regulations, and high population density. In addition, the findings indicated that SSC factors accounted for 76.73% of the total explained variance. The modeling results further validated the impact of SSC on project efficiency, identifying two principal components: finance-related and support-related. These findings provide valuable insights into addressing SSC challenges in road projects for a developing country like Vietnam.