Dead-end street

A dead end, also known as a cul-de-sac (/ˈkʌldəsæk, ˈkʊl-/; French: [kydsak], lit. 'bag bottom'), a no-through road or a no-exit road, is a street with only one combined inlet and outlet.

Dead ends are added to roads in urban planning designs to limit traffic in residential areas. Some dead ends prohibit all-through traffic, while others allow cyclists, pedestrians, or other non-automotive traffic to pass through connecting easements or paths. The latter case is an example of filtered permeability.

The International Federation of Pedestrians proposed calling such streets "living end streets" and to provide signage at the entry of the streets that clearly indicates non-automotive permeability. This would retain the dead end's primary function as a non-through road, but establish complete pedestrian and bicycle network connectivity.

"Dead end" is not the most commonly used expression in all English-speaking regions. Official terminology and traffic signs include many alternatives; some are only used regionally. In the UK, a dead end residential street is sometimes called a close. In the United States, a cul-de-sac is often not an exact synonym for "dead end,” as it refers explicitly to a dead-end street with a circular end, making it easier for vehicles to turn around. Street names are determined at the city or county level, with most choosing to use court for a bulbous cul-de-sac. In Australia, a street with a bulbous end is usually referred to as a court. In Canada, where street names are decided on the municipal level, cul-de-sacs are usually named courts.