Ex-post evaluation of project efficiency and effectiveness within a Norwegian highway project

• Published in: Case studies on transport policy 2023-09, Vol.13, p.101067, Article 101067
• Main Authors: Foroutan Mirhosseini, Ali, Pitera, Kelly, Odeck, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cost inaccuracy; Cost overrun; Ex-post evaluation; Project management; Project success; Transport infrastructure
• ISSN: 2213-624X; 2213-6258
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cstp.2023.101067

•Ex-post evaluation of a Norwegian highway is presented.•Definition of cost overrun in Norwegian planning system is explained and discussed.•Causes and explanations for cost increase is described and efficiency of the project is evaluated.•Technical and economical reasons comprise about 92% of total cost increases.•The project has been effective in achieving predetermined objectives. The traditional view of transportation infrastructure projects’ success evaluation has been focused on efficient time and cost performance (i.e., operational success), but there is an increased interest in considering a broader perspective that evaluates whether the project has performed as promised with respect to project goals (i.e., tactical success). This study presents a two-level success evaluation of a Norwegian highway that examines project efficiency and effectiveness, i.e., operational and tactical success. The evaluation suggests that while the project experienced a large cost increase during the construction period, it performed operationally efficiently with 2.48% cost underrun. The project was also tactically successful in effectively achieving the predetermined goals of reducing traffic accidents, traffic congestion, and travel time through the project area. Considering both aspects of success provide a more holistic understanding of the project’s benefits, and this study contributes to further developing the overall understanding of project success evaluation through the case study.