Delays in Infrastructure Projects: Main Reasons in the Design, Procurement, and Construction Phases

Delays during the development of infrastructure projects are a common phenomenon that implies a lack of efficiency in using taxpayers’ money. Several studies were conducted to investigate the causes of these delays. However, they did not explore the reasons for the delays in each project phase. This research presents the results of a systematic literature review to identify the primary causes of delay in the phases of design, procurement, and construction of infrastructure projects. Thirty-seven (37) relevant papers published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2024 were selected and analyzed using a four-step process comprised of structured literature review, descriptive statistical analysis, content analysis, and reasons categorization. The study revealed that 80% of the reasons occur in the construction phase, while 20% are associated with the design and procurement phases. Identifying the reasons for the delay within each phase may aid public owners, design firms, and construction firms in developing specific measures to mitigate the delays in each phase.