Evaluation Of The Drainage System Of The Access Road To The Miguelillo Community, Chirimoya Site, Portoviejo Canton

Abstract

Land transport infrastructure in rural areas experiences an increase in physical vulnerability due to extreme weather events driven by climate change. This research studies the transverse storm drainage system of the road to the Miguelillo community, aiming to evaluate the dynamic behavior and hydraulic response capacity of existing crossing structures, as well as to design new structures in critical sections that currently lack them.

The methodology included the processing of rainfall records to develop Intensity-Duration-Frequency (IDF) curves for the contributing catchments. Subsequently, maximum design discharges for different return periods were modeled through advanced local hydraulic simulations using HEC-RAS and HY-8 platforms.

The simulation results determined dissimilar behaviors along the road corridor. While the main bridges exhibit adequate hydraulic capacity within their cross-sections, the geospatial analysis of the inundation-affected zone revealed critical vulnerabilities due to lateral flooding in adjacent areas and approach roadways. Likewise, the evaluation of the existing culvert block identified hydraulically insufficient structures and critical sections where discharge velocities in the outlet channels exceed the erosive limits of road regulations, analytically justifying the need to implement rigid concrete linings. Finally, the dimensioning of new box culverts calculated under enveloping scenario criteria proved to be an efficient engineering solution to mitigate storm-induced flooding and restore free-surface hydraulic connectivity along the road corridor.