Diseño vial de la AV. 16 de julio, desde la autopista E-15 hasta el Hotel Palmar, Cantón Santa Elena

Abstract

The main objective of this work is to propose the geometric design of the access road to the Palmar commune, located in a region of high vehicular and tourist traffic. This road, which is an important axis of connectivity, is considerably deteriorated due to factors such as the constant vehicular flow and the lack of regular maintenance. Therefore, a road design is proposed that optimizes traffic conditions, guaranteeing safety and efficiency for users. The development of the design is based on an exhaustive technical analysis that includes topographic studies and soil tests. The topographic data allowed us to determine the appropriate slopes, curves and geometric characteristics, while the soil tests provided key parameters such as the bearing capacity and the degree of compaction. For the soil study, we based ourselves on the AASHTO 93 regulations which determined a soil type A-3, and according to SUCS we have a poorly graded sand material, sand with gravel, with little or no fines. The road is classified as a class 2 road, according to the TPDA for a 20-year projection there is a 2.40% annual vehicle growth. As a result, a geometric design is proposed that includes adjustments to the longitudinal profile and cross section of the road, optimizing the slopes, curvature radii and lane widths with a distance of 3m and a berm of 1.5m to ensure the functionality of the road.