Invest in Safety: Why We Need to Maintain Our Roads, Not Just Widen Them

Dear Community Members,

This morning, I noticed a change that brings both hope and a reminder of what we’re fighting to prevent. At the Wasatch Boulevard intersection—where Lily Lu was tragically struck and killed—the city of Cottonwood Heights and UDOT have finally replaced the faulty street lights. For too long, this dark, unsafe spot has symbolized poor urban planning. Lily’s loss reminds us that simply adding more lanes doesn’t make roads safe; well-lit, well-maintained streets do.

At Save Not Pave, our Vision Zero goals are clear: we must design streets that protect every user, from drivers to pedestrians and cyclists. All too often, after a tragedy the blame shifts to those on foot or on bikes rather than addressing the root cause—unsafe, poorly designed infrastructure. We believe that if our streets were designed with safety in mind from the start, tragedies like Lily’s could be prevented. Today’s small victory of replacing the faulty street lights is only a beginning; it underscores the urgent need for proactive maintenance and smarter design in our urban spaces.

Across our state, while many push to widen roads or build new ones, we advocate for upgrading what we already have. Maintaining just a mile of road in the U.S. can cost between $10,000 and $50,000 a year, a modest investment compared to the steep costs and disruptions of new construction.Widening roads costs us dearly—it not only induces more traffic and emissions but also demands extra spending on snowplows and repair crews, disrupting communities and even forcing some residents to lose their homes through eminent domain. This will and has already happened when Wasatch gets widened. 

Our roads are the lifelines of our communities. Instead of constantly expanding them, let’s invest in keeping them safe, efficient, and sustainable. By prioritizing maintenance over expansion, we save money, protect our environment, and put safety at the forefront of every journey. Together, we can hold our leaders accountable and work toward a future where every street is designed to save lives. Join us in advocating for smarter, more responsible road policies that truly serve our communities.

Micki Harris
Director of Save Not Pave
Savenotpave.org