Road Construction Projects Identification and Major Selection Challenges: The Case of Ethiopian Roads Authority
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Date
2022-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Road is one of the infrastructures that has a significant impact on the rapid expansion of socioeconomic development and improve the quality of life in a society. In economically depressed areas, construction of roads boosts the economy. It is allows for efficient movement of people, commodities and to a wide range of business and social activities. Hence, Road projects should be identified and selected based on acceptable identification and selection criteria to improve inhabitants' socioeconomic conditions and improve quality of life. The major aim of this research is to assess the challenges of the identification and selection process of road projects. The research is designed in a way that responses are acquired through both open and closed ended questionnaire. Data collected using closed ended questionnaire is analyzed using quantitative research approach, whereas the data collected through open ended questionnaires is analyzed using a qualitative approach. In this research a total of 103 questionnaires were distributed to respondents as per the sample size and 97 responses were completed and collected for analysis. Primary and secondary data gathering approaches are used to achieve the research goals. To address the issue, the staffs of ERA project planning and program management Directorate, ERA design Management Directorate, contractors, and consultants were given a questionnaire with 14 primary parameters that influence project identification and selection process. A desk study on the existing Ethiopian Roads Authority project identification and selection methods was done to augment the questionnaire. Respondents from the project planning and program management Directorate were approached in person for additional in-depth discussion of the issue because the directorate directly involve in the process of finding and selecting road projects throughout the country and have firsthand experience with the challenges that arise thereafter. Descriptive statistic data analysis method is used for both quantitative and qualitative data collected using the SPSS. It is concluded that political intervention, public demand through chaotic protest and proposals made by regional governments influence the process of project identification and selection process. For the goal of improving citizens' livelihoods, a multi-criteria approach to identify and select road projects should be implemented strictly without any preconceived interference.
Keywords: Project Identification, project selection, Multi-criteria analysis, ERA