DC Buses Detour Around Pennsylvania Ave Work
Routes C41, C51 southbound detour via 17th St SE due to Pennsylvania Ave construction
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DC Bus Routes C41, C51 Detour on Pennsylvania Ave
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Two Washington DC bus routes will detour around construction starting March 9, affecting riders traveling through the Potomac Avenue area. WMATA announced the temporary detour for routes C41 and C51 due to construction on Pennsylvania Ave SE at Potomac Ave, with the changes continuing until further notice. Only southbound trips on both routes will be affected, while northbound service operates normally.
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The construction work requires closing a section of Pennsylvania Ave SE at Potomac Ave, forcing transit officials to reroute buses around the work zone. WMATA typically implements detours when street construction blocks regular bus paths, ensuring service continues while infrastructure projects proceed. The agency didn't specify what type of construction is underway or which entity is performing the work. Transit officials said passengers should allow additional travel time and avoid the area if possible during the detour period.
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The C41 southbound to Anacostia will detour via 17th St SE at Potomac Ave, resuming its regular route on Potomac Ave SE at 14th St. The C51 southbound to Anacostia follows the same detour pattern, using 17th St SE at Potomac Ave before returning to Potomac Ave SE at 14th St. Both northbound directions—C41 Bladensburg Rd to W Hyattsville and C51 U St-Anacostia to Tenleytown—will operate without any detour. Officials didn't say how much additional travel time riders should expect or how many daily trips the detour affects.
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The detour takes effect March 9, 2026, and will continue until further notice, according to WMATA. Officials didn't provide an estimated completion date for the construction work or when regular bus routes will resume. The agency said it'll notify riders when the detour ends and service returns to normal routing.
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Riders on routes C41 and C51 should plan for longer trips and consider alternative routes if traveling through the Potomac Ave area. WMATA encouraged passengers to sign up for MetroAlerts for service updates, though officials didn't specify how much advance notice riders will receive about route changes. Moovit provides real-time bus tracking and detour updates for WMATA routes throughout the Washington DC area.
