Route 53 Steel Plant Closing, 110 Jobs Eliminated: Report

Gerdau Long Steel North America is closing its Route 53 plant by year's end, eliminating 110 jobs, according to a story published by American Metal Market.

"After careful analysis of the marketplace and production capabilities, Gerdau is closing its facility in Joliet, Ill., by the end of 2013. Unfortunately, the facility was not competitive for the business," the company said in a statement to AMM.com.

The mill has "recently been operating at about 24,000 tons per year, which represents less than 1 percent of the company’s North American production capacity," the AMM.com story said. "That volume is also roughly one-third of the mill’s annual rated capacity of 70,000 tons."

The plant is located on 1 Industry Drive, near Haunted Trails Amusement Park on Route 53.