Gov. Walz signs a bill renaming portion of State Highway 169 to honor Sen. Tomassoni

By WDIO

On Thursday morning, Governor Tim Walz and lawmakers gathered to sign the bill designating a portion of Highway 169 as the “Senator David J. Tomassoni Memorial Cross Range Expressway.” The 40-mile stretch is from Marble to Mt. Iron. Both the House and Senate approved the bill.

“Senator David Tomassoni exemplified the spirit of the Iron Range. His humble nature and devotion to improving his community has had an enduring impact,” Governor Walz said. “When we lost Senator Tomassoni, we lost a dedicated legislator, a champion for the Range, and a powerful advocate for people with ALS. Yet, his legacy lives on. I am honored to dedicate this stretch of highway across the Iron Range to Senator Tomassoni.”

Senator Tomassoni’s family members were on hand at the Captiol for the signing.

“He wanted every family to have opportunity. An opportunity to work. To feed your kids. To grow and to provide for next the generation,” Dante Tomassoni said about his father. “He spent his entire career anchored in that tenet philosphy.”

“He knew that economic opportunity needed infrastrucure, and this highway was a vital pipeline to econonimc vitality in his district, Dante said. “To honor the final four lane completion, it was also a key to safety for families driving on its roads.”

The bill, authored by Senator Rob Farnsworth (R-Hibbing) was introduced on February 19. Representative Dave Lislegard (D-Aurora) brought it to the House of Representatives, where it passed unanimously. The Senate passed the bill on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Rep. Dave Lislegard, (DFL) District 07B said David Tomassoni will never be forgotten.

“This is a fitting tribute to a wonderful man that meant so much to the Iron Range because he put people before politics,” Rep. Lislegard said. “He is dearly missed.”

“Filling the shoes of Sen. Tomassoni is not easy, they are big footprints,” Sen. Robert Farnsworth (R) District 07 said. “I wouldn’t be doing justice in filling the seats of the Range senator if I didn’t point out that there is still eight miles to pay for on the Cross Range Express.”

Learn more about Chapter 98, Senate File 3881 here.