One Eagle Mountain woman has started a campaign to save lives on the city's snow-blown highway this winter.

On a sunny January day about a year ago, Leslie Rasmussen and her four children were driving eastbound on State Route 73, which leads from Eagle Mountain to Lehi Center Street, when a car attempting to turn in front of her lost control and hit her head-on.

"Thankfully we all walked away from it with only minor injuries," she said."But the accident could have been avoided. It was caused by blowing snow."

The weather that day was great, but there had been a snowstorm the day before. Her lane was clear of snow, and she was traveling about 50 mph.

"There was about 6 inches of snow buildup in the middle turn lane, which caused another car to lose control and come into my lane," she said in a petition to UDOT.

On that day, keeping others from being hurt or killed by snow drifting onto the highway became Rasmussen's passion. An e-mail request to 90 of her friends to ask UDOT to install snow fences has grown larger than she ever imagined, spreading from resident to resident.

"When there is snow on the ground and it is windy, S.R. 73 becomes so dangerous," she wrote to UDOT officials. "There are car accidents all the time.Will you please install snow fencing so we can avoid all of these accidents?"

Her campaign, combined with pressure from Mayor Heather Jackson and city officials, is bringing results.

Traditional snow fencing is impossible because, for it to work, it must be installed about 300 feet from the highway, and the state cannot afford the $8 million that would be needed to purchase the right of way, said Scott Thompson of UDOT. Installing temporary snow fencing each winter is possible with landowner cooperation, but would still cost $600,000, a price the state cannot stomach.

UDOT hopes they have found a cheaper solution.

Before serious snow flies this winter, fabric fencing will be installed along the road to help reduce snow drift. The state has also just completed a new maintenance shed on Redwood Road. With three snowplows and a supply of salt stationed here with full-time staff, UDOT will be able to do a much better job keeping the Eagle Mountain Highway cleared of snow, Thompson said.

UDOT is also asking those traveling the highway to drive more cautiously.

"Please slow down, leave more space better you and the vehicles around you, and make sure you car is in good working condition," Thompson said in response to e-mail from concerned residents. "Working together we can all have a safe winter driving season."