Pipeline will soon reopen, carrying gasoline to 5 states

ATLANTA (AP) - Gasoline should begin flowing again today - through a temporary bypass on a critical pipeline - after a major leak in Alabama forced a shutdown that led to surging fuel prices and scattered gas shortages across the South, a company official said Tuesday.

The roughly 500-foot section of pipe serving as the bypass is now complete, but supply disruptions may continue for days, Colonial Pipeline spokesman Steve Baker told the Associated Press.

"When Line 1 restarts, it will take several days for the fuel delivery supply chain to return to normal. As such, some markets served by Colonial Pipeline may experience, or continue to experience, intermittent service interruptions. Colonial continues to move as much gasoline, diesel and jet fuel as possible and will continue to do so until markets return to normal," Colonial said in a statement.

Here are some details related to the spill that led to long gas lines and empty service stations:

Alabama state workers discovered the leak Sept. 9 when they noticed a strong gasoline odor and sheen on a man-made retention pond, along with dead vegetation, according to a report by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration part of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The preliminary report does not identify the cause as the federal investigation continues. It wasn't initially possible to pinpoint the leak, partly because highly flammable benzene and gasoline vapors prevented firefighters and inspectors from approaching the site for days.

The company has acknowledged that since the spill was spotted, between 252,000 gallons and 336,000 gallons of gasoline leaked from its pipeline near Helena, Alabama. That's no more than 37 truckloads at an industry-average 9,000 gallons per tank.

However, because the leak forced a critical pipeline to shut down, its impact was far greater. The pipeline section that failed, built in 1963, runs from Mississippi to Atlanta.

The spill reduced fuel supplies in at least five states - Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and the Carolinas - despite executive orders by governors across the South to suspend limits on trucking hours, allowing drivers to stay on the road longer to bring fuel to gas stations.

The American Automobile Association reported in Georgia, the regular gas price rose about 5 cents from Monday to Tuesday, to an average $2.36 statewide. That's up nearly 27 cents over the past week. The price climbed nearly 7 cents since Monday in more rural areas of Georgia. South Carolina's regular gas rose nearly 4 cents from Monday to Tuesday, and nearly 18 cents from a week ago. The Columbia, South Carolina area saw prices rise about 6 cents since Monday.

AAA reported Tuesday that Alabama, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia also saw prices climb since Monday.