CTA Route 49 Detours to Maintain Service Continuity

CTA Route 49 buses detour via 59th, Damen, and 55th streets due to Western Avenue blockage

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CTA Route 49 Rerouted Due to Street Blockage

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Chicago's #49 Western bus route is running on a detour in both directions due to a street blockage near Western Avenue and 57th Street, transit officials said. The reroute began Friday, April 17, at 12:26 a.m., with buses traveling via Western Avenue, 59th Street, Damen Avenue, and 55th Street before returning to Western Avenue. The CTA classified the service change as causing minor delays, though officials haven't said when normal service will resume.

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The #49 Western route is one of Chicago's longest north-south bus lines, running approximately 20 miles along Western Avenue from Howard Street to 79th Street. The affected area near 57th Street serves neighborhoods including Gage Park and West Englewood. Street blockages typically result from construction projects, utility work, or infrastructure repairs, though officials didn't specify the nature of this particular obstruction. The CTA routinely implements temporary reroutes to maintain service continuity when street conditions prevent buses from following their regular paths.

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The detour adds approximately four blocks to the route's path in the affected area. Buses traveling southbound turn east on 59th Street, south on Damen Avenue, and west on 55th Street before returning to Western Avenue. Northbound buses follow the same detour in reverse. Officials didn't provide estimates for how much additional travel time riders should expect, though the agency advised passengers to allow extra time when using the route. The CTA hasn't released information about how many daily riders are affected by the reroute.

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The reroute remains in effect with no announced end date. The CTA listed the restoration timeline as "to be determined" in its customer alert. Transit officials said they'll continue the detour until the street blockage near Western and 57th is cleared, but they haven't provided a timeline for when that work will be completed. The agency typically updates service alerts as conditions change.

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Riders on the #49 Western route should plan for minor delays and note that buses won't serve stops on Western Avenue between 59th and 55th streets during the reroute. The CTA said passengers can check for real-time updates through transit information services. Moovit provides current bus locations and adjusted arrival times for CTA routes affected by detours.