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Understanding the Landscape of Overruns in Transport Infrastructure Projects

Author

Listed:
  • Peter E D Love

    (Department of Civil Engineering Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia)

  • Jim Smith

    (School of Sustainable Development, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, Australia)

  • Ian Simpson

    (CSi Global Services Level 6, 83 Mount Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060, Australia)

  • Michael Regan

    (School of Sustainable Development, Bond University, Robina, QLD 4229, Australia)

  • Oluwole Olatunji

    (School of Built Environment, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia)

Abstract

Cost and schedule overruns are endemic features of transport infrastructure projects. Despite the considerable amount of research within the field of transport and planning in the past thirty years, limited progress has been made to improving the performance of projects. We contend that this will continue to be an issue as long as research efforts focus on the ‘outside view’ with emphasis being placed upon strategic misrepresentation and optimism bias. Understanding ‘why’ and ‘how’ projects overrun, particularly from both ‘outside’ and ‘inside’ perspectives, is pivotal to reducing their impact and occurrence. Thus, in conjunction with the transport and planning literature, references to cost-overrun studies undertaken within the field of construction and engineering are examined. Our objective is to provide policy makers, industry, voluntary organizations, and the public at large with an ameliorated understanding about time-overrun and cost-overrun phenomena. Suggestions to mitigate overruns based upon recent process and technological innovations are identified and discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Peter E D Love & Jim Smith & Ian Simpson & Michael Regan & Oluwole Olatunji, 2015. "Understanding the Landscape of Overruns in Transport Infrastructure Projects," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 42(3), pages 490-509, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirb:v:42:y:2015:i:3:p:490-509
    DOI: 10.1068/b130102p
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bent Flyvbjerg & Mette K. Skamris holm & Søren L. Buhl, 2003. "How common and how large are cost overruns in transport infrastructure projects?," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(1), pages 71-88, January.
    2. Reichelt, Kimberly & Lyneis, James, 1999. "The dynamics of project performance: benchmarking the drivers of cost and schedule overrun," European Management Journal, Elsevier, vol. 17(2), pages 135-150, April.
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