Colonial Pipeline announced on Wednesday, March 27, that it would delay the planned shutdown of a small pipeline delivering fuel to North Baltimore from April 1 to May 1, 2024, Reuters reported last Friday.  

The North American oil major made the announcement following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on Tuesday, which resulted in an indefinite closure of the Port of Baltimore, increasing the city's reliance on Colonial's pipeline for fuel deliveries.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are delaying the planned shutdown of our Line 23 supplying North Baltimore," a spokesperson at Colonial told The Associated Press (AP). 

"This will help ensure continued fuel deliveries to the region during this critical time."

Colonial operates the largest network of refined product pipelines in the United States, with two small sections of its main pipeline delivering fuel to Baltimore. One section is located in the north and the other in the port area.

The line supplying the port area, Line 32, has been operating at full capacity since the bridge collapse, according to the company. 

Additionally, Colonial announced it would pro-rate deliveries on that line from April 9 to April 16.