Harvey continues to impact gas prices in Alabama, pipeline opening delayed

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Gas prices continue to rise in the Yellowhammer State as delays to repair the nation’s largest fuel system continue.

The Colonial Pipeline, which provides 40 percent of the east coast, shut down its fuel line Thursday due to damage sustained when Hurricane Harvey devastated the Gulf Coast.

“We continue to work expeditiously to complete final repairs to our facilities damaged by the storm, and to assess our lines and right of ways to ensure the integrity of our system between Houston and Hebert,” Colonial Pipeline said in a statement.

Colonial Pipeline map
Colonial Pipeline continues to repair damage of its operations west of Lake Charles, LA. The reopening of sections of two pipelines west of Lake Charles will be delayed to Monday and Tuesday. [Photo courtesy of Colonial Pipeline Co.]

According to the company, the assessments are ongoing and they hope to restart the distillates (Line 2) on Monday, September 4, and gasoline (Line 1) on and Tuesday, September 5 .

Alabama drivers have been feeling the pain at the pump since Harvey hit. The average price of a gallon of regular gas is $2.48 in Alabama on Monday, up $0.06 from Friday’s $2.42 due to increased demand from the Labor Day holiday weekend as well from the impact of Harvey. Nationally, the gas average has climbed to $2.65 in the wake of the storm.

On Friday, Gov. Kay Ivey declared a state of emergency and enacted the state’s price gouging law to protect drivers in light of shortage.