Photo by Joe OlivieriA local nonprofit group has raised enough funds to move a live oak tree away from road construction.
As of March 21, the Austin Heritage Tree Foundation has raised $20,000 to move the "Taco Bell Tree" from the southeast corner of the West Hwy. 290/William Cannon Drive intersection to the nearby Beckett Grove, foundation Executive Director Michael Fossum said.
The group had secured a city grant for some of the costs, but needed to raise $20,000 by March 24 to prevent the tree from being removed by the Texas Department of Transportation.
AHTF is still raising money to cover unforeseen costs associated with the relocation, Fossum said.
TxDOT is widening West Hwy. 290 to build a continuous-flow intersection at William Cannon Drive to temporarily alleviate traffic in the area. At CFIs, lanes are moved to allow a driver to turn left while a driver on the opposite side of the intersection can drive straight ahead.
