Tidal roads

[empirestate]

We know about fords, where a road crosses a body of flowing water. And there are likely countless examples of roads crossing dry river beds in arid areas that are subject to flooding after rainfall. We also know about winter roads in arctic areas, where a semi-permanent road may exist across a frozen lake, river, or even the ocean.

But I think this is a first for me: a tidal road, where a road makes a permanent crossing of a body of water, but is regularly covered and uncovered with the changing tide, such that it's passable only periodically. The example I've found is in Saint Andrews, NB, where a tidal road crosses an arm of Passamaquoddy Bay between the mainland and Ministers Island: https://goo.gl/maps/8bXbkJN4KjH2. The Van Horne estate located on the island is a tourist attraction, and crossing the bar to get there is both a novel and critical aspect of planning a visit.

So, how common are these "tidal roads"? Can we find other examples?

[ErmineNotyours]

http://www.wetroads.co.uk/tidal.htm lists a few.

[ErmineNotyours]

I didn't know you could drive on certain Washington State Parks beaches.  I politely parked in the parking lot, the only car, and made the long walk to the beach, where everyone else had driven in.  Well, I'll be damned.  The only other beaches I had been to were the ones in Olympic National Park, where they like to keep things natural.

Edit to add: I found the park I was talking about: Google Satellite View.

[empirestate]

I didn't know you could drive on certain Washington State Parks beaches.  I politely parked in the parking lot, the only car, and made the long walk to the beach, where everyone else had driven in.  Well, I'll be damned.  The only other beaches I had been to were the ones in Olympic National Park, where they like to keep things natural.

I've seen some instances of driving on beaches. I think in much of the country, driving on a beach isn't any more illegal than driving off-road in any other area where you have access to public land. In other words, it's not prohibited unless it's prohibited.

(That being said, it's likely prohibited in a great many places where the beach is a public park or recreation area, or where large numbers of people are likely to gather–that is, damn near all of the east coast!)

[Rothman]

Drove on the beach in Daytona Beach years ago.

[roadman]

Given how frequently it floods out during high tide, I'd say Morrissey Boulevard in Boston qualifies.

[empirestate]

Given how frequently it floods out during high tide, I'd say Morrissey Boulevard in Boston qualifies.

Facetiously, anyway. But I don't think any part of it is intentionally subject to regular tidal fluctuations.


iPhone

[webny99]

Fictional, I know, but I remember reading a Boxcar Children book as a kid in which a tidal road played a role. I believe it was set in Maine or northeastern Canada.

[WR of USA]

Lieutenant Island Road in Welfleet, MA floods during high tide and the road is completely underwater. As the tide goes out, the marsh becomes visible and you can drive to the island.

[fivea]

In a similar arrangement to Lieutenant Island, further south on Cape Cod there is the road and bridge to Pochet Island, Orleans, MA where the oversand road can be underwater during high tide.

[wxfree]

I didn't know you could drive on certain Washington State Parks beaches.  I politely parked in the parking lot, the only car, and made the long walk to the beach, where everyone else had driven in.  Well, I'll be damned.  The only other beaches I had been to were the ones in Olympic National Park, where they like to keep things natural.

I've seen some instances of driving on beaches. I think in much of the country, driving on a beach isn't any more illegal than driving off-road in any other area where you have access to public land. In other words, it's not prohibited unless it's prohibited.

(That being said, it's likely prohibited in a great many places where the beach is a public park or recreation area, or where large numbers of people are likely to gather–that is, damn near all of the east coast!)

There's widespread driving on beaches in Texas, pretty much wherever the area is accessible by road.  The state speed limit statute provides that the default speed limit on a beach is 15.  In some places there are special access drives from the main highway on a barrier island to the beach.  Cities may require parking permits, which I assume is for the sake of limiting the number of cars in urban areas.  Galveston's city beach is a park, so it's subject to more rules and there's street parking and a sidewalk, making it obvious they don't want you driving on it.  But generally, if you can drive to it, you can drive on it.

One interesting place in particular is Sandollar Sity, which can be driven to only on the beach  (not a paid endorsement; I just happened to notice it researching the topic).  One of the access roads I mentioned is just south of there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8054262,-97.0749521,260m/data=!3m1!1e3?hl=en

Google even Streetviewed what it calls Port Aransas Beach Rd.

https://www.google.com/maps/@27.8048544,-97.0751693,3a,75y,207.36h,90t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sPab3xU3PnNuZWRumHkGb8g!2e0!6s%2F%2Fgeo0.ggpht.com%2Fcbk%3Fpanoid%3DPab3xU3PnNuZWRumHkGb8g%26output%3Dthumbnail%26cb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile.gps%26thumb%3D2%26w%3D203%26h%3D100%26yaw%3D142.56502%26pitch%3D0%26thumbfov%3D100!7i3328!8i1664?hl=en

Edit: They Streetviewed another area where there's a speed limit sign, showing specifically that driving is allowed.

https://goo.gl/maps/YvxyQE7rd9w

[webny99]

Google even Streetviewed what it calls Port Aransas Beach Rd.
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Hey, it's a small world. I was on that exact beach last March - only beach on the Gulf I've ever been to!

[Duke87]

A similar example to the OP, connecting the town of Bar Harbor, ME to Bar Island, but only at low tide: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3947421,-68.2141366,1129m/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=1

Both examples are in waterways off of the Gulf of Maine / Bay of Fundy, which is known for its abnormally high tidal amplitude - some of the highest in the world.

[Flint1979]

Fictional, I know, but I remember reading a Boxcar Children book as a kid in which a tidal road played a role. I believe it was set in Maine or northeastern Canada.

I remember that book. I think I read every book as a kid.

[kphoger]

A similar example to the OP, connecting the town of Bar Harbor, ME to Bar Island, but only at low tide: https://www.google.com/maps/@44.3947421,-68.2141366,1129m/data=!3m1!1e3?authuser=1

Both examples are in waterways off of the Gulf of Maine / Bay of Fundy, which is known for its abnormally high tidal amplitude - some of the highest in the world.

I find the name "Bridge Street" rather ironic there.