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More than a third of Maryland gas stations are out of gasoline as the East Coast sees shortages following a cyberattack on a major pipeline.
Though the Colonial Pipeline has already begun to restart operations following the attack, some consumers resorted to panic buying gasoline after news of the disruption.
The company said it will take several days for the supply chain to return to normal.
GasBuddy.com, a site that tracks gas prices, reports that 34% of Maryland gas stations were experiencing outages as of 7 a.m. Thursday.
Other states along the East Coast are seeing much more severe problems: In Virginia, 55% of gas stations don t have gasoline, according to the GasBuddy.com data, while more than 70% of stations are dry in North Carolina.
Maryland will stop studying how to widen most of the Capital Beltway with toll lanes and will focus on replacing the American Legion Bridge and expanding the lower part of Interstate 270, state transportation officials announced Wednesday.
UpdatedThu, May 13, 2021 at 2:38 pm ET
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Consumers can expect a small increase in shortages on Thursday followed by further recovery in the next 48 hours after Colonial Pipeline was hit by a ransomware attack. (Elizabeth Janney/Patch)
MARYLAND Spikes in gas prices were reported in Maryland and other areas after a cyberattack prompted a major gas pipeline shutdown.
Colonial Pipeline, which runs from New York to Texas and delivers 45 percent of fuel to the East Coast, shut down its main pipeline over the weekend as a precaution after the ransomware attack. It has since been reactivated.
Prices at the pump in Maryland have increased 10 cents in the past week, according to the Automobile Association of America.
Politicians Call for More Changes to Already-Reduced Beltway Widening Plans
While several local and state officials praised the state’s decision to not widen the Beltway at the 270-495 spur through Chevy Chase and Silver Spring, they also called for more changes to the state’s latest proposal to reduce traffic congestion along the Beltway.
County Executive Marc Elrich applauded the decision not to widen 495 east of Old Georgetown Road, noting it officially ends fears by the residents and businesses that could have been displaced or negatively impacted by the project.
Under the most recent plans, a new American Legion Bridge and two high occupancy toll lanes in each direction from the George Washington Memorial Parkway in Virginia to east Maryland 187 on 495 would be built, according to the Maryland Department of Transportation. On 270, from 495 north of 370 and on the one 270 eastern spur from 187 to 270, there will be one high occupancy toll lane added in each direction.