diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index 8914b64..8bdce52 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import './styles/chromatic.css';
 import './styles/refinements.css';
 import './styles/title-navigation.css';
 import './styles/wayfinding.css';
+import './styles/route.css';
 import './styles/print.css';
 
 defineProps<{ inputs: Readonly<ProductionInputs> }>();
diff --git a/src/components/PortfolioSection.vue b/src/components/PortfolioSection.vue
index a2f2fac..977cdcf 100644
--- a/src/components/PortfolioSection.vue
+++ b/src/components/PortfolioSection.vue
@@ -10,11 +10,13 @@ defineProps<{
   exit?: string | undefined;
   /** Next chapter label for the plate's "then" line (decorative, CSS-generated). */
   nextLabel?: string | undefined;
+  /** Next chapter's exit number, for the end-of-chapter "next exit" sign. */
+  nextExit?: string | undefined;
 }>();
 </script>
 
 <template>
-  <section :id="id" class="portfolio-section" :aria-labelledby="`${id}-heading`" :data-layout="layout" :data-exit="exit" :data-next="nextLabel">
+  <section :id="id" class="portfolio-section" :aria-labelledby="`${id}-heading`" :data-layout="layout" :data-exit="exit" :data-next="nextLabel" :data-next-exit="nextExit">
     <div v-if="$slots.lead" class="project-stage__lead">
       <p v-if="eyebrow" class="section-eyebrow">{{ eyebrow }}</p>
       <h2 :id="`${id}-heading`" tabindex="-1">{{ heading }}</h2>
@@ -24,6 +26,7 @@ defineProps<{
       <p v-if="eyebrow" class="section-eyebrow">{{ eyebrow }}</p>
       <h2 :id="`${id}-heading`" tabindex="-1">{{ heading }}</h2>
     </template>
-    <slot />
+    <slot v-if="$slots.lead" />
+    <div v-else class="chapter-body"><slot /></div>
   </section>
 </template>
diff --git a/src/styles/components.css b/src/styles/components.css
index 0d7a738..e3d14e8 100644
--- a/src/styles/components.css
+++ b/src/styles/components.css
@@ -98,6 +98,7 @@
 }
 
 .portfolio-section > p,
+.portfolio-section > .chapter-body > p,
 .portfolio-section article p,
 .portfolio-section dd,
 .portfolio-section li {
@@ -105,6 +106,7 @@
 }
 
 .portfolio-section > * + *,
+.portfolio-section > .chapter-body > * + *,
 .portfolio-section article > * + *,
 .portfolio-section li + li {
   margin-block-start: var(--space-2);
diff --git a/src/styles/evolution.css b/src/styles/evolution.css
index 38f7bc0..183e2bf 100644
--- a/src/styles/evolution.css
+++ b/src/styles/evolution.css
@@ -166,7 +166,7 @@ body {
   font-size: 0.7rem;
   letter-spacing: 0.1em;
 }
-.portfolio-section[data-layout='right-rail'] > p {
+.portfolio-section[data-layout='right-rail'] > .chapter-body > p {
   font-size: clamp(19px, 1.5vw, 24px);
   line-height: 1.6;
   letter-spacing: -0.02em;
@@ -635,7 +635,7 @@ body {
   .portfolio-section[data-layout='project-stage'] > .section-eyebrow {
     margin-inline: 12px;
   }
-  .portfolio-section[data-layout='right-rail'] > p {
+  .portfolio-section[data-layout='right-rail'] > .chapter-body > p {
     font-size: 20px;
   }
   .experience-record {
diff --git a/src/styles/route.css b/src/styles/route.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cb5d2ea
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/styles/route.css
@@ -0,0 +1,360 @@
+/* The Route (round 3). Chapters stop being identical glass cards over the
+   world. Each one opens with its exit tab and a large heading standing over
+   the road, then a reading panel, then a "next exit" sign; between chapters
+   the page leaves a stretch of open road so the roadside districts show.
+   Navigation becomes a route map. Every added label is CSS generated content
+   or an aria-label, so the semantic document is unchanged. Imported after
+   wayfinding.css, before print.css. */
+
+/* ---------- Chapter openers over the road (tablet and up) ---------- */
+@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section {
+    margin-block: clamp(220px, 44vh, 480px) 0;
+    padding-block-end: clamp(150px, 20vh, 230px);
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section:not([data-layout='project-stage']) {
+    padding-inline: 0;
+    padding-block-start: 3rem;
+    border: 0;
+    border-radius: 0;
+    background: none;
+    box-shadow: none;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-current] {
+    animation: none;
+  }
+
+  /* The exit tab now hangs above the heading, not on a panel edge. */
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section:not([data-layout='project-stage'])[data-exit]::before {
+    inset-inline-start: 0;
+    translate: none;
+    padding: 0.55rem 0.85rem 0.5rem;
+    font-size: 0.78rem;
+  }
+
+  .reading-stage :is(.portfolio-section, .project-stage__lead) > h2 {
+    inline-size: fit-content;
+    max-inline-size: 100%;
+    margin-block: 0 clamp(26px, 4vh, 44px);
+    color: var(--text);
+    font-size: clamp(54px, 7.2vw, 124px);
+    font-weight: 620;
+    line-height: 0.94;
+    letter-spacing: -0.058em;
+    text-wrap: balance;
+    /* A dark halo instead of a plate: the heading stands in the scene but
+       keeps its contrast over the sun and the neon horizon. */
+    text-shadow:
+      0 0 2px rgb(9 4 22 / 95%),
+      0 0.02em 0.16em rgb(9 4 22 / 92%),
+      0 0.06em 0.6em rgb(9 4 22 / 78%);
+  }
+  .reading-stage :is(.portfolio-section, .project-stage__lead) > h2::after {
+    content: '' / '';
+    display: block;
+    inline-size: min(2.4em, 100%);
+    block-size: 5px;
+    margin-block-start: 0.2em;
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    background: var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent));
+    box-shadow: 0 0 22px color-mix(in srgb, var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent)) 70%, transparent);
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section > .section-eyebrow {
+    margin-block-end: 0.9rem;
+    text-shadow: 0 0 10px rgb(9 4 22 / 90%);
+  }
+
+  /* The reading panel carries the chrome the whole section used to. */
+  .reading-stage .chapter-body {
+    position: relative;
+    padding: clamp(28px, 3.4vw, 56px);
+    border: 1px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent)) 30%, transparent);
+    border-radius: var(--radius-surface);
+    background:
+      radial-gradient(ellipse at 100% 0%, rgb(var(--chapter-glow, 40 70 110) / 18%), transparent 65%),
+      var(--surface);
+    box-shadow:
+      var(--panel-shadow),
+      inset 0 1px color-mix(in srgb, var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent)) 42%, transparent);
+  }
+  .reading-stage .chapter-body > * + * {
+    margin-block-start: var(--space-3);
+  }
+  .reading-stage [data-layout='right-rail'] .chapter-body > p {
+    font-size: clamp(19px, 1.5vw, 24px);
+    line-height: 1.6;
+    letter-spacing: -0.02em;
+  }
+  @media (prefers-reduced-motion: no-preference) {
+    .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-current] .chapter-body {
+      animation: exit-panel-light 1.6s cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.75, 0.2, 1) both;
+    }
+  }
+
+  /* End of chapter: the next exit, signed like a roadside advance sign. */
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-exit]::after {
+    content: 'NEXT EXIT ' attr(data-next-exit) '\A' attr(data-next) '  \2192' / '';
+    inset-block: auto clamp(36px, 6vh, 76px);
+    inset-inline: auto 0;
+    translate: none;
+    padding: 0.85rem 1.15rem 0.8rem;
+    border: 2px solid color-mix(in srgb, var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent)) 70%, transparent);
+    border-radius: 6px;
+    background: rgb(12 6 28 / 90%);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 28px color-mix(in srgb, var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent)) 22%, transparent);
+    color: var(--text);
+    font: 640 0.8rem/1.55 var(--mono);
+    letter-spacing: 0.14em;
+    text-align: start;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-layout='left-timeline'][data-exit]::after {
+    inset-inline: 0 auto;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-exit='08']::after {
+    content: 'END OF ROUTE' / '';
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-exit='08'][data-trip]::after {
+    content: 'END OF ROUTE\A' attr(data-trip) / '';
+  }
+}
+
+/* ---------- Destination: the ending is a place, not a small card ---------- */
+@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-layout='destination'] {
+    inline-size: min(900px, 64%);
+    margin-block-end: clamp(80px, 12vh, 140px);
+  }
+  .reading-stage [data-layout='destination'] > h2 {
+    font-size: clamp(72px, 10vw, 168px);
+  }
+  .reading-stage [data-layout='destination'] .contact-destination__copy {
+    font-size: clamp(26px, 2.4vw, 38px);
+    line-height: 1.22;
+    letter-spacing: -0.03em;
+  }
+  .reading-stage [data-layout='destination'] .contact-link {
+    min-block-size: 56px;
+    padding-inline: 1.6rem;
+    font-size: 1.05rem;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ---------- Case studies: evidence beside media that stays in view ---------- */
+@media screen and (min-width: 1100px) {
+  .reading-stage .project-case-study[data-media-layout]:not([data-media-layout='none']) {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 1fr);
+    column-gap: clamp(32px, 3.6vw, 72px);
+    align-items: start;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .project-case-study[data-media-layout]:not([data-media-layout='none']) > :not(.project-media-gallery) {
+    grid-column: 1;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .project-case-study[data-media-layout]:not([data-media-layout='none']) > .project-media-gallery {
+    grid-column: 2;
+    grid-row: 1 / span 3;
+    position: sticky;
+    inset-block-start: calc(var(--sign-reading-top, 220px) + 16px);
+    margin-block: 0;
+  }
+  /* Evidence reads as a spec sheet: the lettered stop in a rail, text beside it. */
+  .reading-stage .project-evidence > div {
+    display: grid;
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(9rem, 0.34fr) minmax(0, 1fr);
+    column-gap: 1.4rem;
+    align-items: baseline;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .project-case-study[data-media-layout]:not([data-media-layout='none']) .project-evidence {
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
+  }
+  .reading-stage .project-case-study[data-media-layout]:not([data-media-layout='none']) .project-evidence ul {
+    columns: auto;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ---------- Route map navigation ---------- */
+@media screen and (min-width: 768px) {
+  .site-navigation ul {
+    position: relative;
+  }
+  /* The road: a thin line under the exits, lit up to the current one. */
+  .site-navigation ul::before,
+  .site-navigation ul::after {
+    content: '' / '';
+    position: absolute;
+    inset-block-end: 3px;
+    inset-inline-start: calc(100% / var(--route-count, 8) / 2);
+    block-size: 2px;
+    border-radius: 2px;
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+  .site-navigation ul::before {
+    inline-size: calc(100% - 100% / var(--route-count, 8));
+    background: rgb(198 122 209 / 22%);
+  }
+  .site-navigation ul::after {
+    inline-size: calc((100% - 100% / var(--route-count, 8)) * var(--route-index, 0) / (var(--route-count, 8) - 1));
+    background: linear-gradient(90deg, var(--rose, #ff83c2), var(--violet, #c4a2ff), var(--accent), var(--coral, #ffa68d));
+    box-shadow: 0 0 10px rgb(255 131 194 / 45%);
+    transition: inline-size 520ms cubic-bezier(0.22, 1, 0.36, 1);
+  }
+  .site-navigation li {
+    position: relative;
+  }
+  /* Exit nodes on the road: hollow ahead, filled once passed, the car marker here. */
+  .site-navigation li::after {
+    content: '' / '';
+    position: absolute;
+    z-index: 1;
+    inset-block-end: 0;
+    inset-inline-start: 50%;
+    inline-size: 8px;
+    block-size: 8px;
+    translate: -50% 0;
+    border: 1.5px solid rgb(198 122 209 / 60%);
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: rgb(22 12 40);
+    pointer-events: none;
+    transition: background-color 300ms, border-color 300ms;
+  }
+  .site-navigation li[data-route='passed']::after {
+    border-color: var(--rose, #ff83c2);
+    background: var(--rose, #ff83c2);
+  }
+  .site-navigation li[data-route='here']::after {
+    inline-size: 14px;
+    block-size: 8px;
+    inset-block-end: 0;
+    border: 0;
+    border-radius: 4px 4px 2px 2px;
+    background: var(--focus);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 12px var(--focus), -6px 0 10px -2px rgb(255 214 147 / 55%);
+  }
+  .site-navigation[data-motion='false'] ul::after,
+  .site-navigation[data-motion='false'] li::after {
+    transition: none;
+  }
+}
+
+/* Compact screens: the closed summary names where you are on the route. */
+@media screen and (max-width: 767px) {
+  .site-navigation summary[data-exit]::after {
+    content: 'EXIT ' attr(data-exit) '  \00b7  ' attr(data-label) / '';
+    margin-inline-start: 0.7em;
+    padding: 0.2rem 0.45rem;
+    border-radius: 3px;
+    background: rgb(255 131 194 / 16%);
+    color: var(--text);
+    font: 640 0.66rem/1.3 var(--mono);
+    letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+    white-space: pre;
+  }
+  /* The open list is drawn as a single vertical route with exit nodes. */
+  .site-navigation ul {
+    position: relative;
+    grid-template-columns: minmax(0, 1fr);
+  }
+  .site-navigation li {
+    position: relative;
+  }
+  .site-navigation li::before {
+    content: '' / '';
+    position: absolute;
+    inset-block: 0;
+    inset-inline-start: 10px;
+    inline-size: 2px;
+    background: rgb(198 122 209 / 28%);
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+  .site-navigation li::after {
+    content: '' / '';
+    position: absolute;
+    inset-block-start: 50%;
+    inset-inline-start: 6px;
+    inline-size: 10px;
+    block-size: 10px;
+    translate: 0 -50%;
+    border: 1.5px solid rgb(198 122 209 / 70%);
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: rgb(22 12 40);
+    pointer-events: none;
+  }
+  .site-navigation li[data-route='passed']::after {
+    background: var(--rose, #ff83c2);
+    border-color: var(--rose, #ff83c2);
+  }
+  .site-navigation li[data-route='here']::after {
+    background: var(--focus);
+    border-color: var(--focus);
+    box-shadow: 0 0 10px var(--focus);
+  }
+  .site-navigation li a {
+    justify-content: flex-start;
+    padding-inline-start: 30px;
+    text-align: start;
+  }
+}
+
+/* ---------- Resume chip for returning visitors ---------- */
+.hero-journey__resume {
+  display: inline-flex;
+  align-items: center;
+  gap: 0.6rem;
+  inline-size: fit-content;
+  min-block-size: 44px;
+  margin-block-start: 0.9rem;
+  padding: 0.5rem 0.9rem;
+  border: 1px solid rgb(255 214 147 / 45%);
+  border-radius: 999px;
+  background: rgb(14 7 30 / 78%);
+  color: var(--text);
+  font: 600 0.74rem/1 var(--mono);
+  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+  text-decoration: none;
+}
+.hero-journey__resume::before {
+  content: 'RESUME' / '';
+  color: var(--focus);
+}
+.hero-journey__resume::after {
+  content: 'EXIT ' attr(data-exit) '  \00b7  ' attr(data-label) '  \2192' / '';
+  white-space: pre;
+}
+.hero-journey__resume:hover {
+  border-color: var(--focus);
+}
+.hero-journey__resume:focus-visible {
+  outline: 2px solid var(--focus);
+  outline-offset: 3px;
+}
+
+/* ---------- Forced colours, reduced motion, print ---------- */
+@media (forced-colors: active) {
+  .reading-stage .chapter-body {
+    border: 1px solid CanvasText;
+    background: Canvas;
+  }
+  .reading-stage :is(.portfolio-section, .project-stage__lead) > h2 {
+    text-shadow: none;
+  }
+  .reading-stage :is(.portfolio-section, .project-stage__lead) > h2::after,
+  .site-navigation ul::before,
+  .site-navigation ul::after,
+  .site-navigation li::before,
+  .site-navigation li::after {
+    display: none;
+  }
+  .reading-stage .portfolio-section[data-exit]::after,
+  .hero-journey__resume {
+    forced-color-adjust: none;
+    border: 1px solid CanvasText;
+    background: Canvas;
+    color: CanvasText;
+  }
+}
+@media print {
+  .hero-journey__resume,
+  .site-navigation summary[data-exit]::after {
+    display: none !important;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/tests/browser/journey-integration.spec.ts b/tests/browser/journey-integration.spec.ts
index 5d12556..57be334 100644
--- a/tests/browser/journey-integration.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/browser/journey-integration.spec.ts
@@ -807,6 +807,7 @@ test('keeps every passive transition sign clear of visible opaque panels and fix
           [
             '.hero-journey__content',
             '.portfolio-section:not([data-layout="full-diagram"]):not([data-layout="project-stage"])',
+            '.chapter-body',
             '.portfolio-section[data-layout="full-diagram"] > h2',
             '.infrastructure-case > h3',
             '.infrastructure-case > p',