Common risks affecting time overrun in road construction projects in Palestine: Contractors' perspective

The construction sector is one of the key economic sectors and is the main force motivating the Palestinian national economy. However, it suffers from a number of problems that affect time, cost and quality performances. This study aims at identifying the common risks affecting time overrun in road construction projects in the West Bank in Palestine from contractors' viewpoint. 45 factors that might cause delays of road construction projects were defined through a detailed literature review. A questionnaire survey was performed to rank the considered factors in terms of severity and frequency. The analysis of the survey indicated that the top risks affecting time overrun in road construction projects in Palestine are: financial status of the contractors, payment delays by the owner, the political situation and segmentation of the West Bank, poor communication between construction parties, lack of equipment efficiency and high competition in bids.