Patent ID: 7263736

Claim:
In combination with a sand dune of a height (H) positioned to protect a beach on a seaward side of the sand dune, a suspension bridge extending from a landward side to a seaward side of the sand dune, the combination comprising: first pilings disposed at least in proximately with the landward side of the sand dune; second pilings disposed at least in proximately with the seaward side of the sand dune; suspension cables supported by the first and second pilings; a bridge deck supported by the suspension cables with a clearance (C) from the crest of the dune, the bridge deck having a seaward end and a landward end so as to substantially avoid contact with the sand dune and having openings therethrough for the free passage of sand, air and water, and a seaward ramp extending without engaging the seaward side of the sand dune from the seaward end of the bridge deck down to the beach protected by the sand dune, the seaward ramp having openings therethrough for the free passage of sand, air and water; whereby erosion damage to the seaward side of sand dune is minimized.