When someone drives across a bridge, I am aware of the psychological implications of crossing to the other side. I don't have my character chopping sausages while describing a failed marriage to a best friend unless I want the reader to make crass associations. Too much imagery makes the narrative dense. The wrong imagery makes a story seem trite or unfocused. Clumsy or obvious images leave a reader feeling bludgeoned.
Subtle images work on a deeper lever to create memorable fiction.
Writing is not always a conscious act. My subconscious mind makes mystical connections, suggesting scenes and images that are thematically related but don't quite play out on the first few drafts. It could be that a scene that isn't working needs more exploration before its relevance becomes clear. If further exploration fails to reveal a reason, then and only then will I delete it. I check to see that my setting, in every scene, works to foreshadow events, express mood, or help define problems.