Relationship of operating speed with pavement serviceability from the pavement condition index. Case of study: Barranquilla, Colombia

Objectives: The present research aims to find the relationship in the field that the road condition index has concerning its operating speed, based on the expected assumption that the worse the condition index, the lower the road operating speed will be. Methodology: The methodology used to carry out this research consisted in the estimation of the condition index (PCI) and the measurement of speeds in different road sections of the city of Barranquilla (Colombia), where a record of the surface conditions of the pavement from 0 when it was failed and 100 for pavement in excellent condition. In the case of speed recording, the plate method was used to obtain operating speeds. Then, using the UNALPCIA software, the value of the PCI of the evaluated road sections was estimated and then correlated with the operating speeds obtained in the field of those sections. Findings: The main findings obtained from the investigation consist of the effective relationship between the value of the PCI and the operating speed, having that the lower the condition index, the lower the operating speed on the road due to the presence of damage to the road pavement surface. Novelty: The study of the surface conditions of the pavement in the cities of Colombia is little studied, which leads to policies associated with the maintenance of pavement structures becoming late, given that the comfort and speed of operation allowed by these do not is appropriate, even though its structural function is still in force. Keywords: Condition index; comfort; policies; surface condition