Gas Pipeline Expected Back Online Today

Colonial Pipeline said that it expects to re-start its pipeline today after a leak this month shut down the line, causing a gas crunch throughout the Southeast, including Toccoa.
Tuesday, Colonial Pipeline announced that the bypass segment is complete and they are currently conducting structural integrity tests in advance of the line re-start today.

The company said that once the line is restarted, it may take a few days for supply to return to normal in the southeast states hit hardest by the partial closure of the pipeline including Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, South Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia.
Since the leak was detected and shut down the pipeline, some gas shortages have been reported throughout the region, resulting in lines, closed pumps, and higher prices.

Toccoa was not immune as gas prices jumped 30 to 40 cents or more in the past several days since supplies began to dwindle.

Also, there have been stations in the Toccoa area without gas at times during this period.

That said, Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey says that the school system has not any issues meeting its fuel needs.

“One, school systems are a priority for GEMA, so we typically are taken of,” said Dorsey. “Second, diesel has not been at the same demand that regular gasoline has been.”

Governor Nathan Deal has urged motorists to maintain regular consumption levels and travel schedules in order to reduce further interruption to the fuel supply, which has also been echoed by officials with AAA.

In addition, AAA said that motorists may continue to see spotty outages this week, but adds that once regular fuel delivery resumes, supplies should return to normal and pump prices should drop back down soon after fuel deliveries are back on schedule.