Colonial Gasoline Pipeline Scheduled to Restart Wednesday
Colonial Pipeline says it expects to restart its main gasoline line in Shelby County on Wednesday. The company has been working to repair a leak that led to gas shortages and higher prices for drivers across the South. It says its bypass repair is complete.
Colonial Pipeline spokesman Steve Baker tells The Associated Press that testing is now being done on the line.
Baker said crews have been working around the clock to get fuel to markets, and that it will take a few days for the fuel supply chain to fully recover after the line restarts.
The 500-foot bypass was needed to move fuel around the leak of its main gasoline pipeline. The leak, which spilled 6,000 barrels of gasoline into a detention pond, was detected Sept. 9.
Meanwhile, AAA reports that gas prices continue to climb in several southern states after the leak slowed the flow of fuel across the South.
AAA reports that in Georgia, Tuesday’s average price for regular gas rose about 5 cents since Monday, to an average $2.36 statewide – up nearly 27 cents over the past week. The price has climbed nearly 7 cents since Monday in the Macon and Augusta areas.
South Carolina saw an average price rise of nearly 4 cents from Monday to Tuesday – up nearly 18 cents from a week ago. The Columbia, South Carolina area saw prices rise about 6 cents since Monday.
The Montgomery area is served by a different pipeline, which is why prices locally haven’t spiked nearly as high.
(Copyright 2016 The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
