ɪnðə nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈɪfti z, ɐ pˈʊʃ bɪɡˈæn fɚɹən ˈɔːlwˈɛðɚ ɹˈaʊt kənˈɛktɪŋ nɔːɹθwˈɛstɚn nᵻvˈædə, sˈʌðɚn ˈɔːɹɪɡən, ænd ðə ɹˈɛdwʊd ɹˈiːdʒən ʌv kˌælɪfˈoːɹniə—æt ðə tˈaɪm, ðɛɹwˌɜː nˈoʊ ɪmpɹˈuːvd ɹˈoʊdz dᵻɹˈɛktli kənˈɛktɪŋ ðiːz ˈɛɹiəz.
In the 1950s, a push began for an all-weather route connecting northwestern Nevada, southern Oregon, and the redwood region of California—at the time, there were no improved roads directly connecting these areas.