Colonial Pipeline said its main gasoline line, Line 1, was safely restarted and returned to service on Wednesday after its biggest leak in almost two decades squeezed supply and led to increased prices at the pump in the Southeast United States.
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It will take several days for fuel supplies to return to normal in markets served by the pipeline, the company said.
The pipeline was closed last week after a spill of at least 250,000 gallons of gas near near Helena, Ala., prompting Deal and other Southern governors to issue emergency orders to lift restrictions on truck drivers to help guarantee more fuel deliveries.
Colonial said it successfully tested and completed the connection of the bypass segment to the main line on Wednesday morning.
Gas prices rose almost 27 cents over the past week to average $2.36 in Georgia.
Gasoline prices are starting to decline on news that a leak has been repaired.
Colonial Pipeline, based in Alpharetta, Ga., said Wednesday night its Line 1 has been “restarted and returned to service”.
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Some gas stations had bags over their pumps and no pricing on their gas signs amid the fuel shortage. North Carolina prices are up 17 cents per gallon to $2.22 per gallon. The breach in Alabama forced a shutdown that left some stations without fuel and sent prices soaring. And gasoline moves slowly through the pipe-just 5 miles per hour, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration-so some areas could still experience shortages and high prices. “It would be premature to speculate on the cause of the September 9 release until the pipe has been excavated, inspected, and investigations are complete”.
