(1) The department may make changes in the alignment of state highways to provide for greater highway safety or more economical highway operation and maintenance.
(2) When a state highway is realigned, the former portion of it may be:
(a) returned or relinquished to the county or municipality in which it is situated to be maintained as a highway;
(b) abandoned by the department if it no longer serves the purpose of a highway; or
(c) disposed of in accordance with Section 72-5-111 if the former portion was purchased in fee.