At one point, Yigal Alon (1918 – 1980) wanted to return part of the Bikah to Jordan. In anticipation of his plans, this road was paved. This highway was supposed to be the border between Israel and Jordan.
Alon was an Israeli political and military figure of the Ahdut HaAvoda party (one of the main forerunners of the modern-day Israeli Labor Party). In April 1969, when Levi Eshkol died, Alon temporarily replaced him. However, Alon held this office less than a month, as Golda Meir was persuaded to return to political life and become prime minister in March 1969.