Project Management: Critical Evaluation of Dartford Crossing Project

This report provides a critical evaluation of the Dartford Crossing project, focusing on its role in managing traffic and supporting economic activities in England. The report analyzes the success and failure factors of the Dartford Bridge, highlighting its impact on reducing traffic congestion and boosting government revenues. It examines lessons learned, particularly the importance of anticipating future traffic demands and the role of project managers in effective planning and execution. The report also offers recommendations for improving the current structure and emphasizes the essential skills required for project managers, such as leadership, communication, scheduling, risk management, and cost management. The evaluation concludes with a reflective analysis of the skills developed during the project evaluation and how they can contribute to a career in project management.

CRITICAL
EVALUATION OF
PROJECT

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
Success and failure factors of Dartford Bridge...........................................................................3
Lesson learnt...............................................................................................................................4
Recommendations.......................................................................................................................5
Reflective Report .......................................................................................................................5
Skills needed for Project Manager..............................................................................................6
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
This report focuses on evaluating Dartford crossing which is a major road crossing on
River Thames in England. This report help in understanding about the bridge and also focuses on
factors of success and failure. This report helps in critically analysing about importance of bridge
in reducing traffic and to reduce congestion which is created by traffic. This report focuses on
how project can be effective and what elements make project effective and efficient in long run.
Aim of Dartford Crossing which is also known as Queen Elizabeth Bridge is to support
economic activities of country and also improve management of traffic. This report focuses on
critical evaluation of this project and also focuses on learning how this project can be made more
effective and focuses on how project management can be chosen as path for career and what
skills and knowledge should be possessed by an individual to be an effective project manager
which can deliver effective and efficient outcome for project (Al-Hajj and Zraunig, 2018).
MAIN BODY
This part of report focuses on critically analysing about success and failure factors of
Dartford bridge and how construction of this bridge contributed in effective management of
traffic and contributed in reduction of traffic. Dartford crossing main purpose was to provide
structure for Metro and Dartford bridge is considered as crucial part in forming a link in M25
motorway. This part of report focuses on critical evaluation of project and help in understanding
factors which have contributed in it success and failure (Anantatmula and Rad, 2018).
Success and failure factors of Dartford Bridge
Dartford bridge which is considered as one of the most significant structure of steel is
second largest in Britain and third longest in Europe. It is based on crossing of Thames in 450m
cable span which is considered as longest in Europe and second largest in world. Dartford
crossing project is proposed to reduce the congestion of traffic and it played vital role in
development of M25 motorway. This project also helped in boosting the revenues for
government by proposing use of modern technologies during development of this bridge and also
helped in proposing new project on the bank of River Thames which is effective for government.
This project made significant impact on traffic activities as it helped in reducing the traffic and
made the transportation effective and efficient. It handles four lanes which are connected of site

visitors for each direction. This project also helped in reducing the traffic and also assisted in
boosting economic and social activity for nation.
This bridge helped in reduction of pollution as high traffic resulted in high levels of
pollution. For crossing of this bridge additional charges are taken which depends on guidelines
set by government as charges for crossing differs depending upon residents are local or not.
Collected revenues contributes in growth and development in economic activity of country and
help in improving social activity of country. This project is also considered effective as it
contributed in forming a link to M25 motorway and helped in achieving objectives of reduction
of traffic. This bridge is considered as part of M25 motorway route by using tunnels northbound
and bridge southbound. Crossing has been tolled be government for boosting revenues as it is
estimated that user charges are estimated at £20.5m. Reduced traffic results in reduced number of
vehicles which automatically reduces consumption of fuel (Buganová and Šimíčková, 2019).
There are various factors which can be considered as success for Dartford crossing but
there are factors which have affected its effectiveness and efficiency in negative manner. One of
the factors of failure is for the homes which are near to Dartford crossing as people have to deal
with traffic. During the planning several assumptions are made in which it is stated that it is
possible that there are delays at dover because of border control and it can cause heavy traffic in
Kent which can result in Dartford crossing become blocked and it affects delivery of fuel into
London. It is been concluded that situation would be worse in future as demand of crossing will
be increased by 38%.
Levels of demand which are analysed cannot be achieved by existing scenario of
Crossing and crossing is already at its maximum operating capacity. It is being analysed that by
the time crossing situation would be more bad and it can make negative impact on environment.
Change in crossing needs time and investment, crossing is one of the major route of transport for
people and if it shuts down for implementing any change then it will affect transportation system
of London (Dasović, Galić and Klanšek, 2020).
Lesson learnt
From the above points it is clear that Dartford crossing was built with aim to reduce
traffic and congestion. Aim of Dartford crossing also involved boosting revenues which can help
in enhancing economic conditions for country. In this project, lesson which is learnt is about
Dartford crossing was developed without analysing future impact of it and when it was

developed increase in traffic was not analysed effectively. Project managers plays crucial role in
execution of project and it is clearly shown that project manager in this project haven't completed
its role and responsibilities which resulted in ineffective structure and forecasting shows that in
future situation could be worse as increase in vehicles will result in traffic and it will make huge
impact on structure. Effectiveness of project is analysed by using various tools and techniques
which help in analysing its future impact and understanding how it can be effective in future.
Different tools and techniques used for project are SWOT analysis, Stakeholder matrix, Risk
map etc. These tools helps in analysing future scope of structure or project and help in
understanding about efficiency and effectiveness in future (Dovgan, Mokhonko and Artemenko,
2017).
Recommendations
From the above discussion, it is clear that Dartford crossing is developed to reduce
congestion of traffic and make people journey comfortable. Current scenario shows that
increasing number of vehicles have affected structure of Dartford as with changing scenario
traffic is continuously increasing and it affects goal behind development of Dartford crossing.
Recommendation can be made in order to reduce the traffic and congestion which help in
making journey of people comfortable. Changes in current structure of Dartford crossing can
only be made by using tools and techniques for project management and by applying those tools
to identify need of changes and also identifying need of resources to make changes. Tools and
techniques can also be used to determine changes according to future conditions by analysing
current environment and future environment. It is important to carefully analyse environment
before any project as it help in preparing and developing and effective structure (Ferris, 2020).
Reflective Report
This part focuses on skills and knowledge which are developed by me in evaluating this
project and how it can help me in considering a career path in project management. From above
evaluation it is analysed by me that Dartford crossing have been proposed an developed for
reducing congestion of traffic and it was also constructed to support economic activity and to
help people in their journey. Project management is explained as execution of project effectively
and efficiently by appropriate use of resources and by effective planning. During evaluation it is
analysed that project managers didn't analyse the change in scenario and from my point of view
it has affected people of Europe which faces high traffic levels and congestion.

In my opinion project managers should have analysed the future impact of Dartford
crossing and how it can be useful to changing scenario. I have to focus on developing my skills
for analysing impact of structure on future and how changes in future can affect current structure.
As an individual, I have to focus on proposing structure which is viable and effectively also I
have to focus on using different tools and techniques which helps in analysing need of project
and how that project can contribute in growth and development of any country or nation. Project
management as a career need skills to effectively manage resources and monitor progress of
project. I have to focus on understanding tools and techniques used during project management
and which I had used during construction of Dartford building (Hasan and et. al., 2019).
Project management helps in developing skills of management which is important during
execution of project and in scenario of Dartford building as an project manager I could have
analysed the surrounding in which bridge is built and focused on understanding changes in future
and constructing it according to future needs. As an individual, during construction of this
project I would have applied SWOT analysis to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of this
project and focused on analysing opportunities and threats which can help in making project
effective and efficient.
Skills needed for Project Manager
Project management is not an easy job as it needs planning, execution, controlling and
closing of project. Project management involves choosing an appropriate team and planning
effectively for utilisation of resources which can help in completing the project within deadline.
Effective execution of project depends on project manager as manager is the one which is
responsible for completing the project and analyse the constraints related with project and
eliminating that constraints. Project manager roles and responsibilities includes planning of
project into small parts and make sure that project is on time, according to budget and within the
scope (Nijhuis, Vrijhoef. and Kessels, 2018).
This part of report focuses on skills which I have to acquire to be an effective project
manager and different skills an project manager should have to complete projects effectively and
efficiently. There are some skills which should be acquired by me to be an effective project
manager and these skills are mentioned below:
 Leadership skills – It is one of the first skill I have to develop as leadership skills help in
leading the team effectively and it also help in achieving the desired goals and objectives.

I can develop my leadership skills by setting an example or doing the work effectively
which is assigned to me as it will set example in front of the team and it will help me in
leading my team and achieving goals and objectives for effective execution of project.
 Communication skills – Communication skills will help me in communicating my ideas
to my team in order to execute the project and it also help me in communicating my team
regarding progress of project and help them in communicating with me regarding ideas
and thoughts which can be effective in planning and execution of project (Pan and Zhang,
2021).
 Scheduling skills – It is one of the hard skill set which I have to develop to be an
effective project manager. This skill will help me in scheduling the activities involved in
a project and also help me in deciding the time frame in which activities should be
completed. This skill will help me in developing an effective schedule for project and
also help me in effectively managing the resources.
 Risk Management – Risk management is one of the important skills which should be
developed by me because in every project there are various risk involved and it is
important to manager risk effectively to make project successful. Risk management is
possible by identifying, controlling and assessing the risk.
 Cost Management – Every project need resources and project is not possible without
money so it is important for me to develop skill of managing the cost. Effective
management of cost help in completing the project effectively and efficiently. This skill
will help me in using budget for project and controlling any extra cost during the project.
 Task Management – This skill is very important for every leader and to be an effective
manager I have to develop this skill as it help in breaking the project into small task in
order to complete the project effectively. Effective task management helps in
encouraging collaboration in team and also enhance productivity of team (Stiros, 2020).
 Quality Management – Quality management is one of the crucial skills in project
management. Development of this skill will help me in delivering quality work and to
make sure that every process and function included in project should be effective and
possess high quality.
 Negotiating – Negotiation skills will help me in leading the project effectively and
resolving the conflicts during a project. In every team, members have different ideas and

thoughts to make project better and effective. It is possible that their might be conflict
among team members regarding thought and ideas it is important to have negotiation
skills in situation of conflict among team members to resolve their conflict and motivate
them to work as a team towards goals and objectives. This skill also help me in
understanding behaviour of team members and negotiating with them according to their
behaviour.
 Critical Thinking – This skill is related with making unbiased judgement and this skill
will help me in making decision in difficult situations by understanding the scenario and
focuses on making decision which is effective and doesn't affect nature of project in
future. This skill also helps me in making judgements which shouldn't be based on my
emotions and decision should be best for project (Yazici, 2020).
CONCLUSION
This report concludes about importance of project management in successful execution of
project. This report concludes about Dartford crossing structure and concludes about success and
failure factors involved in the structure. This report also concludes about how ineffective
management of project can affect any country or nation. This report concludes about project
management and what skills are needed for an effective project manager and how those skills
contribute in successful execution of project.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
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successful completion of projects in construction. International Journal of Innovation,
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factors on project success. Engineering Management Journal. 30(3). pp.165-178.
Buganová, K. and Šimíčková, J., 2019. Risk management in traditional and agile project
management. Transportation Research Procedia. 40. pp.986-993.
Dasović, B., Galić, M. and Klanšek, U., 2020. A survey on integration of optimization and
project management tools for sustainable construction scheduling. Sustainability. 12(8).
p.3405.
Dovgan, L. E., Mokhonko, A. А. and Artemenko, L. P., 2017. Project management.
Ferris, T. L., 2020. Measurement of Resilience and the Time Value of Resilience. IEEE Systems
Journal.
Hasan, A., and et. al., 2019. Empirical study on implications of mobile ICT use for construction
project management. Journal of Management in Engineering. 35(6). p.04019029.
Nijhuis, S., Vrijhoef, R. and Kessels, J., 2018. Tackling project management competence
research. Project Management Journal. 49(3). pp.62-81.
Pan, Y. and Zhang, L., 2021. A BIM-data mining integrated digital twin framework for advanced
project management. Automation in Construction. 124. p.103564.
Stiros, S., 2020. Deflections and modal frequencies of bridges: Constraints and limitations in
results of geodetic monitoring. INGEO&SIG 2020, p.89.
Yazici, H. J., 2020. An exploratory analysis of the project management and corporate
sustainability capabilities for organizational success. International Journal of Managing
Projects in Business.
Zhou, Z., Irizarry, J. and Lu, Y., 2018. A multidimensional framework for unmanned aerial
system applications in construction project management. Journal of management in
engineering. 34(3). p.04018004.