Why construction project delay?

Hi readers, it has been quite sometime that this blog had been not updated. Today we meet again through this posting.

Construction delay, construction delay, construction delay !!!!

Why its happened to most of the contractor? What is the reason behind this delay?

First of all,what are the main reason for delay?
There are three (3) major type of delay.
1. Delay due to contractor fault.
2. Delay due to client reason.
3. Delay due to unforeseen external factor.

What are the root cause for construction delay due to contractor fault.

1. Fail to estimate and plan for the project budget and cash flow.
2. Fail to plan for a proper construction activities & work flow sequence
3. Fail to understand the construction procedure
4. Fail to procure required materials, machinery, equipments and construction experts in order to run constructions activities smoothly.
5. Lack of technical knowledge in the works undertaken.

Bear in mind, delay due to contractor own fault will not be granted for any extension of time. Extra working period taken by contractor to complete the project will be charge liquidated and ascertained damages by client. Not only that,  further delay to the project by contractor can caused stern action being taken against contractor up to termination of the contract and all termination.

How about delay on part of the client. Here are some of the reasons why.

1. Design change by client
2. Delay in payment to contractor.
3. Delay in client decision(s)
4. Additional scope of work requested by client.
5. Insufficient information given to contractor.

Delays due to client fault will always resulted in contractor being granted reasonable extra time to enable contractor complete the project.


Apart from contractor and client fault, unforeseen external factors also can be the reason for delay. In numerous occasions, reasons of nature and unforeseen human activities that can hindered both contractor and client to perform their duties diligently. What are the two mentioned before. Here are some of it.

Due to nature;
1. Extreme increment weather
2. Natural disaster

Cause by human;
1. Riots
2. Global or internal economy crisis
3. In sufficient workforce in construction industries
4. Sudden material shortage
5. Changes in government policies.
And etc.

Delay due to unforeseen external factors resulted to contractor being awarded extension of time or worst case scenario, mutual termination.

Now we know reasons why delays occur in construction. Then the question is, how do we solve this issue?

Keep on following this blog for the next posting. Thank you and have your nice day.

PROJECT QUALITY PLAN : MAJOR CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES FOR ROAD PROJECTS

In roads construction, there is numbers of testing that need to be conducted in order to fulfill the design requirement and also to achieve the quality of end product. Thus even basic knowledge of testing required for any of the executed work in the construction of roads is very important.

Before we proceed with type of test that need to be performed during the construction period, here is the major works that in general will take place along the construction period.

1. Site preparation.
During the site preparation stage, among the sub activities involve are Boundary survey, existing ground level survey, Land clearing, Grubbing, preparation of temporary access, Offices and accommodations,

All those activities does not need any testing. However joint inspection between contractor and client is required.

2. Earthwork
Earthwork actually can be divided into two (2) main work category. The categories are "Cut" and "Fill". In general practice, cutting activities is to form slopes as per construction drawings and to bring down the existing ground level to designed platform level. The cut earth from cutting activities then can be utilized as fill material for "fill" or "embankment" works. Under the "cut" activities, normally there is no testing required but joint inspection need to be conduct to ensure the proposed level and slope formation is in accordance with the construction drawings.

As for fill works there is steps need to be follows. Standard practice will required that the filling work need to be done in layer that is not more than 300mm thick.However the thickness of the layer is also subject to the capacity of the compactor used to achieve the desired degree of compaction. Prior to filling activity, all proposed fill material need to be sampled and tested to ensure its suitability and conformance towards design parameter for the embankment .

3. Pavement & Road Shoulder
The pavement it self are consist of Subgrade, Subbase, Roadbase, Asphaltic Concrete Binder Course (ACB) and Asphaltic Concrete Wearing Course (ACW). Each of these works have their own degree of acceptance base on the design specification. As such, Laying of each of the element need to follow a proper work method statement which had been approved by the Superintending Officer in order to achieve the required quality.

4. Road Furniture & Signages
Among the components of the road furniture are guardrails, road lining or also named as road marking, Road kerb, road reflector or sometimes called as "cat eye". Where as for signage's, it can range from the safety sign for road user such as speed limit signages to the name of any junction along the road. Some of the road project will also include the  chainage marker of the road.

5. Drainage system
Normal road construction will always have the roadside drain. It can be earth type or reinforce concrete type. Apart from the road side drain, at any embankment area or slope, it will involve the construction of "toe drain", Bench or berm drain, "foul drain" and also "interceptor drain". For the "interceptor drain"and "foul drain" normally it is designed as concrete cascade drain.

6. Electrical Works
Under  the electrical scope of works, the major works will be the street lighting and also traffic lights (if any depends on the road design and location of the constructed road).