The department shall neither lease nor sell any part of the state highway primary system, rights-of-way or any of the controlled-access highway facilities for commercial enterprise activities, except public utilities, which were acquired by easement. This shall not serve to prevent the sale of surplus property as authorized by Section 57-5-340, nor shall it prevent the sale of any of the properties referred to in this section which were acquired by fee simple deed.
S.C. Code § 57-5-350