In the 1960s, like many cities, Auburn undertook urban renewal, demolishing the historic downtown in favor of a series of arterials and a central commerce district in the style of big box retail surrounded by surface parking. More about the history of the loop road: https://auburnpub.com/lifestyles/how-urban-renewal-in-auburn-shaped-me-as-an-urbanist-part-two/article_0651c724-db1f-50e0-a423-54f320da9fbd.amp.html