The road construction process is a complex one and is associated with various changes. It is virtually certain that changes made during the course of work which affect cost and schedule. Currently ERA is constructing many asphalt concrete road projects which are susceptible to change orders and there is no enough study that addresses the frequent effects of the change orders in overall cost of the asphalt concrete road construction process and time of completion. This study investigated the causes of change orders and their impact on ERA asphalt road project performance. Causes and impacts of change orders are analysed by formulation of questionnaire based on extensively reviewed literature and case study on selected 10 ERA asphalt concrete road projects.rnIt was concluded that change of plans or scope, change in design, error and omission in design, right of way issue, negligence during design, change in specifications, value engineering and lack of data for design and experience in predicting underground condition were some of the critical factors causing change orders.rnIn the archival study of 10 selected Ethiopian road authority projects change order contribute 8.74% increase in average cost per project and design consultant initiated 65.38% of change order costs.rnThe most frequent impacts are project cost increase, completion delay, source of additional payments for contractor, increases in overhead expense, and results in hiring new professionals.rnInterims of change order impacts severity rank increases in project cost, completion schedule delay, aadditional payments for contractor, increases in overhead expense, and productivity degradation factors constituted the most visible consequences of variation orders that affect project advisedly.rnANALYZING CHANGE ORDERS IN SELECTED ETHIOPIAN ROAD AUTHORITY ASPHALT CONCRETE ROADrnPROJECTS CONSTRUCTED BY FOREIGN CONTRACTORSrnThe findings of the study will increase the awareness on causes of change order and its impact on overall construction project performance which will enable the development of proactive measures to reduce them.rnKey words: asphalt concrete ,cause, change order, control, cost, effect