The impact of roads on biodiversity is significant. Of particular concern is the proliferation of invasive exotic plants via roads of all kinds. The tires of vehicles driven in weed-infested areas pick up seeds and transport them great distances.
Highways can adversely impact large carnivores such as black bears, cougars, and wolverines.
The large habitat requirements of these animals compel them to cross roads where they are subject to injury and mortality. Ironically, roads also help to conserve biodiversity in some areas. Utility corridors have negative impacts similar to those of roads, particularly with respect to habitat fragmentation. When located in forested areas, utility corridors disrupt the continuous vegetative community, changing the structure and function of wildlife habitat. In attempting to minimize adverse impacts of utility and transportation corridors, some common themes emerge.