The pipeline, operated by Colonial Pipeline, was shutdown September 9 after 250,000 gallons near Birmingham, Alabama spilled into the area.
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Higher gas prices and fuel shortages could be seen across North Carolina due to the Colonial Pipeline leak that occurred last week in Alabama, which caused Gov. The company says spilled gasoline is being taken to the storage facility for storage. The pumps were completely dry and attendants were not sure when they would get more gas.
A representative from Ingles said some of their gas stations in the area were out of gas Saturday morning.
Colonial gave no timetable as to when that bypass line would be completed or what path it would take.
DeHaan said prices at non-branded chains were rising more quickly than those with larger, branded operations, because larger regional gasoline companies have the ability to tap supply more quickly.
Colonial said that supply disruptions would be felt first in Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, North Carolina and SC.
“When you have a pipeline of that magnitude go down, it just shows everybody unfortunately how fragile the system is and it doesn’t take much to cause some hiccups”, he told WYFF.
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The company says the Cahaba Wildlife Management Area between Highway 270 and Copperhead Road will remain closed to non-residents while construction is underway. Some motorists could pay a little more for gasoline in coming days because of delivery delays. However, only gas supplies in Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas were expected to be affected by the leak and temporary closure of Line 1. Governors can suspend federal transportation regulations during emergencies. That requirement of the Clean Air Act expired at midnight Thursday.
