Living Speed Bumps: RE:BEACH Oceanside Detailed Design

Living Speed Bumps is a hybrid sand-retention approach that stabilises beaches by slowing and guiding natural sediment transport, rather than blocking it. The concept combines two compact, rounded headlands with an offshore artificial reef and targeted nourishment to influence wave breaking, nearshore currents and sand pathways, with the aim of retaining sand in the compartment longer while maintaining beach access, amenity and a natural-looking shoreline. The “living” component is delivered through ecological features integrated into the reef and shoreline elements, supporting habitat complexity alongside beach resilience.

ICM’s Living Speed Bumps concept was selected through the City of Oceanside’s RE:BEACH international design competition. ICM is now working with GHD to progress the pilot through detailed design and engineering, including technical refinement and testing as the project advances toward implementation.

Project Details

• Client: City of Oceanside (RE:BEACH Program) 

• Design Partner: GHD 

• Location: Oceanside, California, USA 

• Status: Detailed design and engineering phase 

About This Project

The Challenge

Oceanside has experienced chronic erosion and reduced beach width, affecting public access, amenity and coastal resilience. The City initiated RE:BEACH to identify a sand-retention pilot that could support a wider, more stable beach while remaining compatible with community values and coastal use. 

The Solution

The selected Living Speed Bumps pilot focuses on a paired headland and reef system supported by nourishment, intended to slow erosive forces and moderate sediment transport so sand persists longer within the pilot compartment. The current phase includes detailed design development and engineering refinement, with physical wave modelling being used by the City to test performance of the proposed reef and headland system across a range of tide and wave conditions. 

Services Provided

• Detailed design and engineering development

• Coastal processes and erosion assessment to support design refinement 

• Design input to physical wave modelling and performance testing framework 

• Ongoing support to progress the pilot through the design and approvals pathway

Interested to know more? Get in touch with our coastal specialists.