Some residents on Capitol Hill are breathing a sign of relief now that the Route 96 and 97 metrobuses have been steered away from a temporary terror-related detour to a new fixed routing. The old 96 and 97 routings on First Street NE between the Russell and Dirksen Senate office buildings ended this summer when Washington’s terror alert level was elevated to Orange. First Street was closed to traffic and metrobuses used Third and Fourth streets to navigate around security checkpoints, irking neighbors not accustomed to having multi-ton noisy buses cutting down their street.

WMATA has announced that the 96 and 97 will return, almost, to their old routings. At Constitution Avenue, northbound buses will make left then hook around Upper Senate Park to North Capitol Street, via Louisiana Avenue and First Street NW. Southbound buses will use the same routing.

For those who don’t know, the 96 is a good bus to get between Adams Morgan and Capitol Hill. But expect a few delays during rush hours as proceeding through checkpoints can add a few minutes to your commute.