An exit ramp (or off-ramp) is the roadway that allows vehicles to leave a freeway or controlled-access highway and transition to local streets or other roadways. Exit ramps are designed to allow safe deceleration from highway speeds to appropriate speeds for the receiving road. Design elements include adequate length for braking, appropriate curve radii, clear sightlines, and signage indicating destinations. Exit ramp design affects both highway safety and local traffic flow where the ramp meets surface streets. Traffic volumes on exit ramps inform municipal planning for adjacent intersections and development. Some exit ramps experience congestion during peak hours, backing traffic onto the highway mainline—a safety concern that may require signal timing adjustments, ramp metering, or capacity improvements. Municipalities typically maintain local roads that exit ramps connect to, while provincial transportation departments maintain the ramps themselves.