The State Highway Commission is hereby authorized to take over, maintain, and operate, as a part of the state highway system under its jurisdiction, any ferry now owned by and operated by, for, or under the authority of any county, county district, or municipality in this state where such ferry is located upon, or is a necessary link of, any designated state highway being maintained by the commission, if such county, county district, or municipality will transfer to said commission all property, real and personal, used by it in the operation of such ferry. In event any such ferries be so taken over by the commission, no toll or fee shall be charged for the use thereof by the public, and all costs of operation and maintenance shall be paid out of the State Highway Maintenance Fund.

Any county, county district, or municipality in this state now owning a ferry which the State Highway Commission may desire to take over under the provisions of this section is hereby authorized to transfer to the State Highway Commission any and all property, real and personal, used by it in the operation of such ferry, without further consideration than the acceptance of the same for public use, pursuant to an order of its governing authority. Any such property so taken over by the commission which may thereafter become unnecessary to the maintenance of traffic over the highway may be disposed of by the commission, in its discretion, and the proceeds paid into the State Highway Maintenance Fund.