DefinePK

Abstract

This study uses the Relative Importance method to identify highway and road building project important risk elements.  Successful highway and high-volume road building projects require risk assessment and management, as these projects are exposed to significant uncertainties stemming from financial, managerial, political, and terrain-related factors. This study investigates the critical risk factors affecting such projects and prioritizes them using the Relative Importance Index (RII). A structured questionnaire, developed from an initial list of 40 risk factors and refined to 31 after pilot testing, was distributed to 150 industry professionals, producing 120 valid responses (80% response rate). The respondents comprised contractors (40%), consultants (35%), and project owners (25%), with an average of 12 years of professional experience, ensuring robust data quality. The analysis revealed financial risks as the most dominant, with “Delay in payments” (RII = 0.933, Rank 1) and “Owner bankruptcy” (RII = 0.911, Rank 2) emerging as the most severe factors. Managerial risks including poor planning, weak leadership, and inadequate project scope definition—were also critical, while unforeseen soil conditions, underground utilities, and land acquisition challenges highlighted the influence of terrain-related risks. Findings from the study highlight the significance of owners, consultants, and contractors identifying and allocating risks early on to keep disputes to a minimum and guarantee effective project completion. With a Cronbach's Alpha of 0.84, the survey instrument was determined to be reliable. By integrating insights from international literature and aligning with findings in China, the UAE, and Pakistan, the study confirms the global relevance of these risks. Practical recommendations include contractual safeguards, enhanced cash-flow management, improved stakeholder coordination, and the application of multi-criteria techniques (AHP, TOPSIS, Monte Carlo) alongside RII for stronger decision support. The findings give project managers and politicians targeted advice to improve risk management and road infrastructure project performance.