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SALT LAKE CITY — The lights running along part of I- 15 in northern Salt Lake City have been fixed more than a year after the largest copper wire heist in the Utah Department of Transportation's history.
Crews worked over the last week to replace all the wire in the lights with aluminum wire. UDOT officials chose aluminum wire this time because it is less expensive and an unlikely target for a thief.
“We're also making it harder to find the junction boxes,” said UDOT spokesperson John Gleason.
The March 2013 heist left the busy mile-long stretch of freeway in the dark between 1000 North and 1800 North in Salt Lake City. More than 30,000 feet of wire worth $50,000 was ripped from 11 access boxes
Gleason said it took more than a year to flip the switch back on because UDOT was fearful the thieves might strike again, and the agency didn't have money to replace the wires again.
These thieves hit us all. Not only as tax payers, as we have to foot the bill, but it affects safety.
–John Gleason, UDOT spokesperson
"We can plan on snow removal. We can plan on pavement repairs. We don't plan on theft,” Gleason said.
Utah Highway Patrol Sgt. Todd Royce said the lights help officers do their job as well, which in turn keeps the public safe. He calls the lights coming back on “a big deal.”
"These thieves hit us all, “ Gleason said. “Not only as tax payers, as we have to foot the bill, but it affects safety."
Royce said UHP has a sense of relief knowing its deputies and other drivers on I-15 can be more easily seen on the highly traveled freeway.
"It allows drivers to, what we call, not drive in your headlights,” Royce said. "(It also helps drivers) anticipate hazards that might be in the road.”
The thieves have not been caught and the investigation is still open. UDOT is asking drivers to keep their eyes open, and if they see anything suspicious on the freeways, to call immediately to help avoid this type of heist again.
