It will take many years. It will cost a lot of money. But it will save many lives.
That, in a nutshell, is the argument for widening U.S. Highway 6 from Spanish Fork to Green River.
It's a good argument.
The Utah Department of Transportation has already spent some $20 million on improving the highway this year. A complete "remake" promises to cost about half a billion dollars more. And work on the road would not be finished until 2030.
But the operation needs to be done. Like heart surgery, the alternative to taking action now is death. The artery needs to be repaired.
Over the past 14 years, 123 people have died on Highway 6. Many people in the region, in fact, have had an acquaintance, friend or relative killed on the state's long and winding road. Near misses haven't been recorded, though most motorists who drive the highway have seen their share over the years. Bumper stickers have been suggested: "Pray for me. I Drive Highway 6." And with the snows now beginning to fall, more dents and devastation can be expected.
The key to all this lies in taking the long view. In a mobile society — especially a society antsy about air travel — the pay-off for paying now will come over the long haul. The south part of Utah County is growing. Moab and the Canyonlands are becoming major destination spots. The traffic will increase. And the real reward for upgrading the grade won't be seen for many years.
A good model for this kind of project is the highway through Sardine Canyon between Logan and Brigham City. Widening that stretch of road was very expensive. Vacationers and residents felt the construction work would never end. But now, it's likely no one would go back. The new highway is safer, faster and more convenient. And parents in Box Elder and Cache County — though still concerned — now breathe a little easier when their high-school age kids head through the canyon. Lives have been saved. But more important, peace of mind has been purchased.
Yes, people still die in Sardine. They will still die on Highway 6. But the number of "in memoriam" photos in high school yearbooks promises to go down.
UDOT has already made much of the highway more negotiable. The department is now eyeing Soldier Summit, Diamond Fork Canyon and Castle Gate for upcoming roadwork.
Paying and waiting for the highway to be widened will be painful for all concerned; but not as painful the funerals for motorists who die on "Utah's most dangerous road."