The bypass that has been set up to help get North Carolina running on a full tank of gas has now been tested.

Helena’s Colonial Pipeline leak in Alabama has limited the fuel supply to the Tar Heel state and its neighbors in the southeast over the past few days, which has caused long lines at gas stations that actually have fuel.

Helena issued an update on Wednesday saying that a 500-foot bypass segment had been constructed and positioned to allow for testing to confirm its structural integrity. The company says those tests were successfully completed on Wednesday morning.

Officials are projecting Helena will resume operation Wednesday evening.

But that doesn’t mean there will be immediate relief for North Carolinians. Helena says once operations are restarted, it is expected to take “several days for the fuel delivery supply chain to return to normal.”

WCHL/Chapelboro is continuing to monitor gas supplies locally.