Building Waterfront Quays in Cities: Skylines 2

Creating aesthetically pleasing waterfronts and functional quay roads represents one of the most challenging yet rewarding aspects of city planning in Cities: Skylines 2. Unlike the previous iteration of the game, constructing quays in the sequel requires a more nuanced approach due to updated mechanics and terrain interaction systems. This guide explores multiple techniques for building quays in various scenarios, from simple coastline implementations to complex water-based structures, enabling players to transform their waterfronts into vibrant commercial and recreational hubs.

Understanding Quays in Cities: Skylines 2

Quays function as specialized road structures that interact uniquely with water bodies and elevation changes. Unlike standard roads that automatically adjust to terrain, quays detect even minimal elevation variations and generate retaining walls along their lower edges. This fundamental difference makes quays particularly valuable for waterfront development, as they provide both functional pathways and visual definition between water and land.

The introduction of dedicated quay mechanics simplified waterfront construction compared to earlier workarounds, though mastering the techniques still requires practice and understanding of the game’s terrain and road systems. Players can extend quays into water to create jetties, establishing additional docking and commercial spaces while maintaining structural integrity.

Pre-Construction Preparation: Setting the Foundation

Successful quay construction begins long before placing roads. Proper terrain preparation determines whether your waterfront structures will appear natural and function effectively.

Terrain Flattening Techniques

Begin by selecting the flatten tool and adjusting the brush size to appropriate dimensions for your intended quay area. Gradually level the coastline region where you plan to construct your waterfront structures. The flattening process creates a uniform base that prevents the awkward, undulating road appearances that result from uneven terrain.

Focus on creating a gradual slope rather than dramatic elevation drops. This approach provides natural-looking transitions between the flattened quay area and surrounding terrain, reducing the need for extensive retaining walls and visual corrections later in the construction process.

Establishing the Optimal Water Edge

Using the level tool, position your cursor just above the waterline and establish a reference height. This height serves as your baseline for subsequent road placement. Maintaining consistency with this reference elevation ensures that your roads create appropriate retaining walls and aesthetic visual continuity along the water’s edge.

The precision of this initial measurement significantly impacts the final appearance of your quay structures. Spending time to calibrate this measurement prevents costly revisions after road placement.

Method One: Coastline Integration

The simplest approach to quay construction involves positioning roads along existing coastlines. This method works exceptionally well for naturally occurring water boundaries and requires minimal additional terraforming.

Step-by-Step Coastline Quay Construction

First, adjust your elevation step setting to the lowest available level and disable snapping functionality. Set your road elevation to approximately 2.5 meters above the baseline water level. This elevation prevents the road from sinking into the water while remaining low enough to create proper retaining walls.

Begin positioning your road by following the coastline carefully. Watch the road indicator icon as you move your cursor alongside the ocean; this visual feedback helps maintain proper alignment. Ideally, aim for approximately 1% gradient as you trace the coast—this slight incline provides both functional drainage and visual interest to your quay road.

If you encounter elevation discrepancies, use the Page Up and Page Down keys to adjust road height dynamically. This real-time adjustment capability prevents the frustrating delete-and-restart cycles that result from misaligned elevation settings.

Handling Construction Challenges

Should your initial road placement fail to generate the desired quay effect, delete the problem segment and redraw it with adjusted elevation parameters. Small tweaks to the cliff edge or road position often resolve issues without requiring complete reconstruction of your waterfront project.

Patience during this phase yields superior results. The goal involves achieving natural-looking integration between your road and the existing water feature rather than forcing unnatural structures that compromise aesthetic appeal.

Method Two: Reverse Quay Construction

The reverse quay technique provides an alternative approach for situations where standard coastal placement produces unsatisfactory results or when building quays on artificially created water bodies.

Creating Artificial Elevation Differentials

This method involves deliberately terraforming your landscape to generate the necessary elevation changes for quay formation. Use the flatten and smooth tools to create a raised platform adjacent to your water body, ensuring a noticeable height distinction between the elevated land and the water surface.

The steeper this elevation differential, the more dramatic your resulting retaining wall and quay structure becomes. Players seeking subtle waterfronts should minimize elevation changes, while those desiring bold architectural statements can increase the height variance significantly.

Road Placement on Elevated Terrain

Once your elevated platform is complete, place roads along the edge where your created platform meets the water or lower terrain. The elevation difference automatically triggers quay generation, producing retaining walls that create the distinctive waterfront aesthetic.

The reverse quay method offers exceptional control over final appearance, making it particularly valuable when constructing artificial harbors, man-made lakes, or custom waterfront developments where natural coastlines don’t provide desired configurations.

Method Three: Water-Based Pier Construction

Perhaps the most visually striking approach involves constructing quays directly within water bodies, creating piers and jetties that extend outward from shore.

Establishing Water-Based Elevation Parameters

Building on water requires different elevation calculations than land-based construction. Set your elevation steps to the lowest level and disable snapping functionality, similar to coastline methods. However, when working exclusively in water, set your road elevation to approximately 7.5 meters—this height ensures your roads rise sufficiently above the waterline to create appropriate visual definition and functional structures.

This elevated positioning prevents your water-based roads from appearing to sink into the water while maintaining realistic proportions relative to surrounding land structures and buildings.

Connecting Water and Land Quays

Begin your water-based road at a point where it intersects with your existing land-based quays or coastal structures. Extend the road continuously into the water, following your desired pier configuration. The game automatically creates appropriate retaining walls and structural support as your road extends outward from shore.

You can add additional segments perpendicular to your main pier structure, creating T-shaped or L-shaped configurations that maximize functional harbor space. These extensions can accommodate additional commercial facilities, recreational features, or aesthetic enhancements.

Advanced Terraforming Techniques

Beyond basic quay construction, several advanced methods enhance both functionality and visual appeal of waterfront developments.

Smoothing Tool Application

After initial quay placement, use the smooth tool to refine transitions between your road and surrounding terrain. This technique eliminates harsh angles and creates organic-looking integration between your constructed quay and natural landscape features. Apply smoothing selectively to areas where abrupt elevation changes occur, focusing on maintaining visual cohesion throughout your waterfront design.

Multi-Level Waterfront Development

Advanced players can construct tiered waterfront developments incorporating multiple elevation levels, creating dramatic architectural features. These structures might include elevated promenades overlooking water-level commercial districts, layered pedestrian pathways, or functional loading areas at varying heights.

Creating these complex structures requires careful sequencing and precise elevation management. Begin with the lowest level and progressively build upward, ensuring that each successive level properly connects to adjacent structures while maintaining functional road networks and pedestrian accessibility.

Road Selection and Optimization

Choosing appropriate road types significantly impacts both aesthetics and functionality of your quay structures.

Pedestrian-Focused Quays

Pedestrian roads and paths provide excellent foundations for leisure-oriented waterfronts. These narrower, minimally-marked road types create attractive recreational areas without the visual dominance of standard four-lane highways. They accommodate parks, shops, and restaurants while maintaining walkable human-scaled environments that encourage foot traffic and vibrant street-level activity.

Commercial Quay Roads

Standard roads and wider commercial variants suit industrial waterfronts designed for cargo handling and heavy vehicle traffic. These roads accommodate trucks and service vehicles while maintaining visual continuity with surrounding commercial districts. Wider road selections provide easier manipulation during construction, reducing the precise micro-adjustments required with narrower pedestrian paths.

Choosing between road types should reflect your waterfront’s intended function rather than purely aesthetic preferences. This functional approach ensures that your quays genuinely support the activities and traffic patterns you envision for your harbors.

Common Construction Challenges and Solutions

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between quays and regular waterfront roads?

Quays automatically generate retaining walls in response to elevation changes, whereas standard roads adjust fluidly to terrain. This distinction makes quays ideal for creating defined waterfront boundaries while regular roads work better for gradual slope transitions.

Can I delete and redraw quay segments after initial placement?

Yes, you can remove individual quay segments and redraw them with adjusted parameters. This flexibility allows iterative refinement and problem-solving without restarting entire waterfront projects when individual segments require adjustment.

What elevation settings work best for different water depths?

Shallow water areas typically work well with 2.5-meter elevations, while deeper water bodies often benefit from 7.5-meter settings. Experiment with your specific water features to determine optimal elevations that produce visually appropriate structures.

How can I create natural-looking curves in my quay roads?

Follow your coastline carefully while watching the road indicator icon for visual feedback. Make small adjustments to maintain proper alignment rather than attempting dramatic turns, which often appear unnatural. The continuous adjustment capability of the elevation keys helps maintain curves without interruption.

Can quays connect to standard roads?

Yes, quays integrate seamlessly with regular road networks. Use snapping features to ensure proper connections, or manually adjust positions to achieve smooth transitions between different road types.

Conclusion

Mastering quay construction in Cities: Skylines 2 transforms waterfront development from a frustrating technical challenge into an enjoyable creative process. Whether constructing simple coastal roads, elaborate multi-level harbors, or scenic pedestrian promenades, understanding fundamental terrain preparation, elevation management, and road selection techniques enables players to build waterfronts that enhance both gameplay functionality and aesthetic appeal. Experiment with different approaches, learn from construction attempts that don’t meet expectations, and gradually develop the intuitive feel for elevation and terrain interaction that characterizes skilled waterfront designers. Your cities’ waterfronts will evolve from basic afterthoughts into compelling destinations that players actively seek out and appreciate.