‘A gift to Minnesotans:’ Prince’s home state names part of highway after him
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Minnesota has named a seven-mile stretch of Highway 5 in honor of Prince.
Gov. Tim Walz signed the bill establishing Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway on Tuesday at Paisley Park in Chanhassen, where Prince lived, worked and performed on occasion.
“It’s a gift to Minnesotans,” said Walz. “Minnesotans love Prince. They love him to this day. They love what it stands for. And they love the idea that this genius, this global icon can come out and have roots and be truly Minnesotan.”
The highway starts in Eden Prairie and goes past Paisley Park not far from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, the inspiration for the final track of Prince’s 25th album called “Arboretum.”
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Prince died at Paisley Park at 57 years old on April 21, 2016, of an accidental fentanyl overdose.
Purple signs will stand along the memorial highway to pay tribute to Prince. Those involved in getting the highway renamed said they anticipate the Minnesota Department of Transportation will install the signs sometime this summer.
Prince’s longtime friend Mark Webster, who helped plan the highway project, said it was the best gift Minnesota could give to Prince.
“Prince never wanted anything from nobody,” said Webster. “But I think the state of Minnesota giving him this highway is a great thing for the world, for the state of Minnesota to see.”
