HUNTINGTON -- With the weakening economy and the slowdown on construction and highway projects, Steel of West Virginia plans to lay off 53 employees at the Huntington plant, according to Tim Duke, president of Steel of West Virginia.

"We hired during the course of the year, but due to a seasonal slowdown on construction and highway projects, coupled with the general weakness in the economy, we are furloughing 53 employees." states Duke. "We start to enter 2010 with a lot less finished inventory and most of our customers have done the same."

Duke also states that as soon as demand picks up they will be "delighted to recall (their) wonderful employees back to work."