(620 ILCS 5/73) (from Ch. 15 1/2, par. 22.73)

Sec. 73. Airport protection privileges. Where necessary, in order to provide unobstructed air space for the landing and taking off of aircraft utilizing public airports, restricted landing areas and other air navigation facilities acquired or operated by the Department, on behalf of and in the name of this State, under the provisions of this Act, it is hereby granted authority to contract or otherwise provide, by condemnation if necessary, for the removal of any airport hazard or the removal or the relocation of all private structures, railways, mains, pipes, conduits, wires, cables, poles, and all other facilities and equipment which may interfere with the location, establishment, construction, development, enlargement, improvement, maintenance, repair, equipment, or operation of such public airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities or with the safe approach thereto or take-off therefrom by aircraft, and to pay the cost of such removal or relocation, and to acquire, within the limitation of available appropriations, and in the same manner as is provided for the acquisition of property for the establishment and construction of public airports, restricted landing areas, and other air navigation facilities, easements through or other interests in air space over land or water, interests in airport hazards outside the boundaries of the public airports or restricted landing areas, and such other airport protection privileges as are necessary to insure safe approaches to the landing areas of said airports and restricted landing areas, and the safe and efficient operation thereof. It is also hereby authorized to acquire, in the same manner, the right or easement, for a term of years or perpetually, to place or maintain suitable marks for the daytime marking and suitable lights for the night time marking of airport hazards, including the right of ingress and egress to or from such airport hazards for the purpose of maintaining and repairing such lights and marks. This authority shall not be so construed as to limit the rights, power or authority of the State or any municipality or other political subdivision to zone property adjacent to any airport or restricted landing area pursuant to any law of this State.

(Source: Laws 1945, p. 335.)