A temporary solution which will allow for better movement of manufactured homes into West Virginia has tentatively been reached, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, announced today. The proposed agreement, which will allow for transport Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 p.m. until dark and Friday afternoons until Labor Day, was discussed during a meeting between Virginia transportation leaders, West Virginia housing industry officials and a Rahall representative on Tuesday. The proposal is expected to be finalized by Friday.

"This is great news for the West Virginia housing industry," Rahall said. "I thank Gov. Tim Kaine for listening to our concerns and for seriously considering my request to ease restrictions."

Last month, Rahall wrote Kaine a letter asking him to amend a ban on shipping homes through Big Walker Mountain and East River Mountain tunnels, being upgraded along Interstate 77. The ban had been in effect between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., which effectively kept homes from being shipped into West Virginia.

At least half of the 4,100 floors shipped into West Virginia last year came from plants in Virginia and other southern states, requiring passage through the choke point of the twin tunnels.
Manufactured housing accounts for 40 percent of all new housing starts in West Virginia, the Congressman pointed out to Kaine in his original letter.

"Clearly, this impasse, had it not been resolved, would have had a lasting negative affect on industry, particularly the factory-built housing industry," Rahall said. "I look forward to continuing our discussions and

A.V. Gallagher, executive director of the West Virginia Housing Institute in Charleston, who has been vocal about the damage the impasse could have on West Virginia's housing industry, said Tuesday's meeting was very productive and thanked Rahall for his support in reaching a solution to "a terrible situation."

"It was an excellent meeting and it's a meeting that would not have occurred without the input and full support of Congressman Rahall," Gallagher said. "We are very grateful to him and we are very satisfied with the outcome -a temporary solution until Labor Day and an agreement to continue our talks."