Highway 610 renamed in honor of Melissa and Mark Hortman
Members of the Hortman family joined state lawmakers and Gov. Tim Walz for the unveiling of new signage designating Highway 610 as Hortman Memorial Highway — in honor of House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark. The highway runs through the district Hortman served, which encompasses parts of Brooklyn Park, Coon Rapids and Champlin. The Hortmans’ children, Colin and Sophie, were among the family members who were at the Nov. 5 dedication in Brooklyn Park. “I hope that every time someone drives down Highway 610 and sees Melissa and Mark’s names, they’ll remember the lives they lived, the people they loved, and all they gave to Minnesota,” Walz wrote in a statement. At the ceremony, Walz noted Speaker Emerita Hortman played a "pivotal role" in securing funding for Highway 610. The new name was made official during the most recent legislative session, when Minnesota lawmakers tasked the transportation commissioner with adopting “a suitable design” to display on signage along the thoroughfare. Sen. John Hoffman sponsored the legislation to rename the highway, along with Rep. Erin Koegel. Hoffman spoke at the Nov. 5 dedication, where he highlighted Hortman's various contributions to the communities the highway passes through. "On the
