Broken pipeline causing spotty gas outages in metro area

ATLANTA — Drivers across Georgia are reporting that some gas stations are out of gasoline due to outages.

Some also report raised gas prices. The cause can be traced back to an Alabama pipeline leak.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported that Colonial Pipeline, the Alpharetta-based company that operates the pipeline, said it expects to restart the broken line next week.

Excavation around the damaged area began Friday after conditions allowed for safe work, the company said.

Colonial also raised the estimated size of the spill to as much as 336,000 gallons, up from 250,000 gallons earlier.

Channel 2 Action News reached out to QT, who said they were experiencing sporadic outages at their facilities due to the issue with the pipeline.

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QT said they are making every effort to keep stores in each quadrant of the metro area supplied.

Some stores however will likely experience some outages until the distribution issue is resolved.

Gov. Nathan Deal has declared a state of emergency, but for the “limited purpose” of suspending caps on the hours fuel truck drivers can work.

The move is intended to “ensure the uninterrupted supply” of gas while the pipeline is fixed, according to the order.

It remains uncertain how long the effects of the spill on prices will last.

Cox Media Group