Red means that road section cannot be built
In County of Fortune, a red road section means the proposed placement is invalid. The official FAQ identifies a clear water-crossing case: build a bridge first instead of drawing an ordinary road through the river. Start with the red section itself, because an otherwise sensible route can still contain one unbuildable crossing.
The official County of Fortune demo FAQ explains this placement feedback alongside the road-building controls.
Use the bridge tool when the route reaches water
If the red section is over water, place a valid crossing using the bridge tool first. Then connect the roads on either side so the intended settlement link passes through the bridge.
The October 20 demo update increased maximum bridge length. That is relevant when comparing current placement with an older demonstration, but the update does not state a numerical maximum or promise that every crossing is possible.
Keep the bridge's actual placement feedback in view. A red road across water is not evidence that the game will automatically supply a bridge when you confirm it.
Recheck the market-square endpoints
Select Build a road from the bottom bar or press V. The relevant connection point is the middle market square of each settlement; the FAQ describes it turning yellow when hovered with the road tool active.
Connect those squares rather than only bringing a road close to a settlement. Use Shift if you need diagonal road construction, and check that the complete proposed connection is valid.
The obtained official instructions do not give an exhaustive list of every terrain or placement restriction. They support the water-and-bridge check and the correct settlement endpoints, without establishing a universal slope limit or a single cause for all red sections.
Separate placement from delivery and capacity
If the road is already built but goods are not arriving, you are checking a different problem. Confirm that it connects the settlements, that the receiving settlement accepts the food recipe or equipment, and that enough goods exist for vendors to deliver.
Likewise, a busy dirt road can lack enough traffic capacity even though its placement was valid. The game notifies you when a road's capacity is insufficient; upgrading to stone increases vendor speed and traffic capacity and requires quarry stone plus a Mason's Guild.
Those delivery and upgrade checks do not turn an invalid water crossing into a valid road. Fix the placement first, then inspect the supply moving over the completed connection.
FAQ
What does a red road section mean?
The section cannot be built as proposed. The official FAQ specifically identifies water crossings as needing a bridge first.
Does Shift let roads cross water without a bridge?
No. Shift is the documented diagonal-road control; water crossings still use the bridge tool.
Is a road near a settlement enough for deliveries?
Verify the connection to the central market square. Then check the selected receiving need and available stock; those are separate from the road's placement color.