ST. PAUL — Late music icon and Minnesota native Prince will soon have a state highway named in his honor, with purple signs marking the route.
The Minnesota Senate on Thursday, May 4, passed a bill to rename a road for the pop star, who died in 2016. Seven miles of Trunk Highway 5 in the southwest Minneapolis suburbs of Chanhassen and Eden Prairie will be called the "Prince Rogers Nelson Memorial Highway."
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Senate discussion of the bill was replete with references to Prince’s music and stories from lawmakers about their interactions with the star.
“Members — or I suppose, dearly beloved — we are gathered here today to get through this thing called the 2023 legislative session,†said Senate Bill sponsor Julia Coleman, R-Waconia, referencing the opening lines of Prince & The Revolution’s hit “Let's Go Crazy.â€
“Though we lost him far too soon, his music and his legacy will live on forever,†she continued. “Prince was a true genius, a visionary artist who pushed the boundaries of music and cultures in ways that will never be forgotten.â€
Minnesota Highway signs can’t be purple under Department of Transportation guidelines, but in this case, lawmakers consulted with the agency and worked to make an exception. Memorial highways are typically marked with a brown sign.
The cost of renaming the highway and all the signage is being covered by friends and fans of the late artist, and there will be no cost to taxpayers, Coleman said.
Prince was born in Minneapolis on June 7, 1958. He started playing music at a young age, and by 19 had his first record deal. He exploded into stardom in the 1980s, becoming famous for hits like “When Doves Cry†and “Purple Rain.â€
A multi-instrumentalist and prolific musician, Prince released nearly 40 albums over his career — and sold more than 100 million records. Many of his recordings remain unreleased.
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“He made music every day. He could do an album in 48 hours,†said Prince’s sister, Sharon Nelson. “Picture that. Some go in the studio and stay two years.â€
Prince died of an accidental fentanyl overdose April 21, 2016, at Paisley Park, his home and recording studio in Chanhassen. The 7-mile highway passes Paisley Park.
The memorial highway bill passed the House unanimously last week on the seventh anniversary of Prince’s death. It passed 55-5 in the Senate, with five Republican members voting in opposition.
Work will begin on the memorial highway signs after Gov. Tim Walz signs the bill into law. House bill sponsor Rep. Lucy Rehm, DFL-Chanhassen, said she expects the dedication to happen sometime before June 7.
“I think this is one of the greatest gifts we can give him,†said Mark Webster, a longtime friend of Prince who started working with elected officials years ago to rename the highway.
Organizers are still working on a date to commemorate the signs and hold the dedication.
Follow Alex Derosier on Twitter or email aderosier@forumcomm.com .
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