It’s open! $1.5M bridge gives drivers and walkers new path to Port Royal’s beach
Sands Beach in Port Royal is one of the few beaches in Beaufort County where cars and trucks and golf carts are allowed to drive right up to the beach, which is favorite place to hunt for sharks teeth and watch spectacular sunsets.
But getting there could be tricky because of accumulating saltwater and large holes that developed because of the daily tides, which also sometimes left unsuspecting visitors with no exit.
Now there’s a brand new wooden bridge that allows vehicles and pedestrians to avoid those hazards when traveling to the northern Beaufort County gem known for its views of Lowcountry landscape including Parris Island and the Bell Bridge as it arcs across Battery Creek.
After three months of construction, Port Royal’s first causeway at the popular Sands Beach is finally open. The $1.5 million bridge which includes a separate walkway for pedestrians.
The Sands is one of the only beaches around where vehicles are allowed to drive onto the beach — except for a roped off stretch closest to the water. It’s an evening ritual for many in the town to drive their carts or walk to the area to enjoy the views and beach breezes.
On Saturday evening, foot and vehicle traffic at the 150-foot long, 24-foot wide wooden bridge was steady and included golf carts and pickups and moms with kids and couples walking their dogs.
The bridge is located where the marsh meets Battery Creek and has long been a hassle to traverse because of the tides, prompting pleas from residents to the town to do something to make it easier and safer to reach.
One idea was to pipe the water out of the area, Town Manager Van Willis said. The Department of Health and Environmental Control preferred a bridge, he said. The town used federal COVID-19 relief funds to pay for it.
Work began on the causeway in March, closing access to the beach. Pedestrian access returned a few weeks ago. The bridge opened to vehicles on Friday. The beach is open from dawn until dusk.
There’s been conjecture, Willis said, that the causeway appears to be unstable but the pilings were driven 25 feet deep and the bridge is capable of handling 20 tons.
Its foundation includes concrete and a rubberized stabilization system. Sand was trucked in to level out the approaches on both sides.
Overall, Willis says, residents seem to be happy with the addition of the causeway, which was constructed by St. Augustine, Fla.-based Greenway Bridge Co.
On social media, Port Royal’s announcement the causeway was opened sparked more than 100 comments. “This is awesome as I already wrecked the bottom of my car last summer!” one person wrote. “Boo to cars on the beach,” wrote another.
This story was originally published June 9, 2025 at 12:33 PM.
