The article reviews the ecological impacts of roads on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, highlighting seven primary effects: mortality from road construction and vehicle collisions, modification of animal behavior, alteration of physical and chemical environments, spread of exotic species, and increased human use of areas. Road construction kills sessile and slow-moving organisms, injures nearby organisms, and alters soil conditions. Vehicle collisions affect the demographics of many species, with mitigation measures being only partially effective. Roads alter animal behavior by changing home ranges, movement patterns, reproductive success, escape responses, and physiological states. They also change soil density, temperature, water content, light levels, dust, surface water flow, runoff patterns, and sedimentation, as well as introduce heavy metals, salts, organic molecules, ozone, and nutrients. Roads promote the spread of exotic species by altering habitats and providing movement corridors. Additionally, roads increase human activities such as hunting, fishing, and development, leading to further ecological impacts. The authors emphasize the need for conservation efforts to avoid constructing new roads in roadless areas and to remove or restore existing roads to benefit both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.The article reviews the ecological impacts of roads on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, highlighting seven primary effects: mortality from road construction and vehicle collisions, modification of animal behavior, alteration of physical and chemical environments, spread of exotic species, and increased human use of areas. Road construction kills sessile and slow-moving organisms, injures nearby organisms, and alters soil conditions. Vehicle collisions affect the demographics of many species, with mitigation measures being only partially effective. Roads alter animal behavior by changing home ranges, movement patterns, reproductive success, escape responses, and physiological states. They also change soil density, temperature, water content, light levels, dust, surface water flow, runoff patterns, and sedimentation, as well as introduce heavy metals, salts, organic molecules, ozone, and nutrients. Roads promote the spread of exotic species by altering habitats and providing movement corridors. Additionally, roads increase human activities such as hunting, fishing, and development, leading to further ecological impacts. The authors emphasize the need for conservation efforts to avoid constructing new roads in roadless areas and to remove or restore existing roads to benefit both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.