Providing public beach access in coastal environments often requires navigating a narrow line between accessibility, constructability, and environmental protection. Dune systems play a critical role in shoreline stability, storm surge mitigation, and habitat preservation, which means access structures must be designed to function around the dunes rather than through them.
While beach access and dune crossings are common infrastructure needs, they are also among the most constrained applications from a regulatory and constructability standpoint. Local and state coastal ordinances should always be consulted early in design, as requirements can vary significantly by jurisdiction and may influence allowable materials, profiles, and construction methods.
This article focuses on application-level considerations for designing low-impact beach access and dune crossings, with an emphasis on constructability and system selection rather than prescriptive design criteria.
Coastal dune environments are typically subject to layered permitting requirements intended to minimize disturbance and preserve natural dune behavior. Common constraints include limits on excavation, restrictions on equipment access, protection of dune vegetation and root systems, and requirements for removability or reversibility.
In addition to physical disturbance limits, construction schedules are often influenced by environmental timing restrictions. Many coastal projects must be coordinated to avoid nesting seasons for protected coastal bird species and sea turtles, further narrowing available installation windows.
These constraints often drive design decisions well before structural capacity becomes the governing factor. In many cases, the question is not whether a structure can be designed to meet loads, but whether it can be installed and maintained without triggering additional permitting complexity or environmental mitigation.
Check out this article to learn more: Walkovers & Boardwalks on the Beach – Florida DEP Guidelines
Dune crossings frequently require elevated structures that maintain clearance over sensitive areas while transitioning between changing dune elevations. Maintaining a consistent walking surface is important for user comfort and accessibility, particularly where dune profiles vary over relatively short distances.
Low-impact profiles that span over dunes—rather than cutting through them—help reduce the need for grading or reworking dune contours over time. Alignment decisions should also account for potential dune migration, avoiding rigid layouts that could require future intervention as conditions evolve.
Check out our webinar on Basics of Boardwalk Design to learn more.
Constructability is often the primary challenge in dune crossing projects. Access is typically limited, staging areas are constrained, and soils are loose and unstable. Wind, salt exposure, and shifting sands further complicate construction sequencing.
Traditional construction methods that rely on extensive excavation, on-site forming, or prolonged field work can unintentionally disturb dune systems, even when the finished structure appears compliant. As a result, construction approach and sequencing are often as important as the structural system itself.
Top-down construction methods are well suited to dune environments because they prioritize minimal surface disturbance. Foundations can be installed with limited excavation, followed by placement of the superstructure from above, reducing the need for temporary access roads or large staging areas.
This approach aligns well with permitting goals focused on minimizing impact during construction and simplifying site restoration once installation is complete.
Want to learn more about boardwalk foundations? Check out our resource: Boardwalk Foundations – Which Type Is Right for My Project?
Precast concrete systems align naturally with the constructability and environmental constraints common to dune crossing projects. Many of the challenges discussed earlier—limited access, restricted disturbance, variable profiles, and tight installation windows—are not unusual conditions for precast systems, but ones precast concrete is well suited to address.
Precast construction reduces the amount of work required within the dune environment itself. Fabrication, tolerances, and quality control are handled off-site, allowing on-site activities to focus primarily on placement and assembly rather than extended forming, curing, and finishing operations. This helps limit the duration and intensity of
disturbance in sensitive areas.
Precast concrete also provides long-term durability in coastal environments where exposure to sand, salt, moisture, and heavy pedestrian use can accelerate deterioration in other materials. The combination of controlled fabrication and robust material performance supports service life expectations that align with public beach access
infrastructure.
Collectively, these characteristics make precast systems a practical option in dune
crossing applications where constructability, durability, and environmental constraints
must be addressed simultaneously.
Precast boardwalk systems have been used on a range of coastal projects where access structures were required to span over dune systems while minimizing environmental disturbance. These applications are typically characterized by limited construction access, sensitive dune vegetation, and permitting requirements that favor elevated, low-
impact solutions.
In these settings, precast systems have been used to provide continuous beach access across primary and secondary dunes, accommodate transitions from upland paths to elevated walkways, and allow for future modification as dune conditions change. The ability to control geometry and limit on-site activity has been a consistent driver in selecting precast for these projects.
One example is the Galveston Island State Park dune crossing, where precast concrete boardwalks were used to provide public beach access while preserving the surrounding dune environment. The project illustrates how elevated precast systems can meet access needs without requiring regrading or significant disturbance of existing dunes.
Check out our project profile for Galveston Island State Park Dune Crossing.
Designing beach access in coastal dune environments requires more than meeting structural demands. Environmental sensitivity, permitting constraints, and constructability limitations often govern how these systems are planned, installed, and maintained over time. In many cases, the success of a dune crossing is determined as much by how it is built as by what is built.
Low-impact solutions that span over existing dunes—rather than cutting through them—allow access structures to coexist with dynamic coastal systems. Profile, alignment, and construction sequencing all play a role in minimizing disturbance while still providing durable, accessible infrastructure for public use.
In this context, precast concrete systems are not simply a material choice, but a response to the constraints that commonly define dune crossing projects. Their ability to limit on-site activity, provide predictable geometry, and perform in harsh coastal environments aligns well with the demands of these sensitive settings.
Ultimately, effective dune crossings are the result of early, application-driven decisions that account for environmental protection, constructability, and long-term performance together. When these factors are considered holistically, beach access and dune preservation do not have to be competing priorities.