Pipeline Could Be Restarted As Early As This Weekend

Helena, AL (WDEF)  Colonial Pipeline hopes to start sending fuel through its pipeline again as early as this weekend.

The company shut down the pipeline Monday after a contract worker caused a massive explosion. One person died and five others suffered injuries, when a trackhoe hit the pipeline and sparked a geyser of fire.

Firefighters built an earthen berm to contain the burning fuel. Once the fire burns itself out, crews will move in to assess the damage. Gerald Beck with Colonial Pipeline says “for planning and looking ahead – that over the next day or two that we can get in and really what needs to be done and we can affect the repair. We’re exploring several options depending on what we might find the condition of the pipe to be and then we’ll try to execute one of those options that best fits to get us back up and running as quickly as we can.”

Colonial had to shut down the pipeline for 12-days back in September after discovering a massive leak. That created a gasoline supply shortage across the South, causing prices at the pump to jump nearly 20 cents.