(Westerly, RI) -- Several Rhode Island airports are dealing with the problem of stubborn runway obstructions from neighboring properties. One of the facilities, Westerly State Airport, is getting good news about this issue. The Westerly Sun reports a Superior Court judge has ruled that the state Department of Transportation was OK to claim property near the airport through eminent domain in order to clear trees. Because they have not been cleared, the Rhode Island Airport Corporation has been forced to shorten Westerly's runways. The RIAC says it has had to take similar action in Newport because efforts to secure an easement from a homeowner failed.
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