Abhayantha, K I L; Perera, B A K S; Perera, H A H P and Palliyaguru, R S (2025) Management of environmental risks in highway construction projects in Sri Lanka. Construction Innovation, 25(3), pp. 867-892. ISSN 1471-4175
Abstract
Purpose: Environmental risks (ERs) are critical to any highway construction project (HCP). One of the main contracting parties responsible for ERs is the contractor. Hence, it has been crucial to look into ways to control ERs in HCPs from the contractor's perspective. This study aims to investigate how ERs can be managed in HCP in Sri Lanka. Design/methodology/approach: A quantitative research approach with three rounds of Delphi was used. Statistical techniques were used to analyse and validate the ERs, the parties to whom the risks were to be allocated, and risk management measures identified from the empirical data collection. Findings: The study reveals the 11 most significant ERs for HCP. Further, the most significant ERs in HCP were mainly found to be the responsibility of contractors in Sri Lanka. Twenty-four most appropriate risk response measures were determined; 13 were found to be common measures that could be used to manage two or more risks, while the remaining 11 were unique to specific risks. Originality/value: Overall, this research determines the most significant ERs in HCP, the best risk allocation among the parties and appropriate risk-handling strategies and measures for each significant ERs. Additionally, the study addresses the demand for ERs management in HCP.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | environmental risks; highway construction projects; risk management |
| Index terms: | risk management, Sri Lanka, risk allocation, highway construction, contracting party, quantitative research, environmental risk, methodology, risk response, strategy |
| Subjects: | Geography, financial risk, research methods, practitioner, management, civil engineering, data analysis and analytics, risk assessment |
| Topics: | Research Practice, Business Strategy, Cost Management, Roles and Professions, Geographical Context, Engineering Principles, Risk Management |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCTA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here