Analysis of Environment Impact Factors That Constrain Successful Delivery of Rural Road Construction Projects

Abstract

This study identifies and examines various Environmental Impact (EI) factors that mitigate against the successful delivery of Rural Road Construction Project (RRCP) in the South Eastern region of Nigeria. The policy thrust of development of rural areas has been threatened as these factors negate the articulated policy objectives of government with respect to RRCP. The survey technique was employed with area and judgmental sampling procedures. The primary data used in the study was captured from the opinion of environmental experts, using questionnaire method and measured with the instrument of questionnaire modeled in likert five point scales. The method of factor analysis was used as the analytical tool for the data obtained in the course of the study. The result of the factor analysis generated five principal components for EI factors which may be likened to five steps of constraints or stresses on the environment. The result of the analysis also indicates that the most critical constraining EI factors in the first priority group and their significant ranking are land and soil characteristics; water ways, river system and flood; rugged geographical terrain and road accessibility; and amount and frequency of annual rainfall. Recommendation were made for forecasting and integration of seasonal variation of weather conditions in scheduling the project completion dates, fast tracking the implementation phase during the dry seasons and contingency mitigation measures to address adverse significant EI on RRCP as they occur.

Keywords: Environmental impacts, factor analysis, mitigation measures, rural development