C81 Bus Reroutes Around Kennedy Street Work
C81 bus detours via Military Road due to Kennedy Street construction between 13th-14th
C81 Bus Detours on Kennedy Street NW for Work
WMATA's C81 bus route is taking a detour around construction on Kennedy Street NW between 13th and 14th streets, transit officials said. The detour began June 30, 2025, and will continue until further notice. Riders traveling through Northwest Washington should expect alternate routing and plan for additional travel time.
Construction Forces Route Changes
The Kennedy Street construction project requires buses to bypass a one-block section of the street, according to WMATA. The agency typically implements detours when roadwork blocks regular bus routes, rerouting vehicles to nearby parallel streets. Officials said the construction timeline depends on the project's completion, though specific details about the work's scope weren't provided. Transit agencies generally coordinate with city departments to minimize service disruptions during infrastructure projects.
Eastbound and Westbound Routes Affected
Eastbound C81 buses heading toward Fort Totten will detour via Military Road NW at 14th Street, then resume the regular route on Kennedy Street NW at Georgia Avenue, officials said. Westbound buses traveling toward Sibley Hospital will detour on Kennedy Street NW at 5th Street, resuming the regular route on Military Road NW at 16th Street. The detours add approximately two to three blocks to each direction's route. Officials updated the advisory Monday, April 13 at 3:30pm.
No End Date Set for Detour
The detour will remain in effect until further notice, WMATA said, with no specific completion date announced. Officials said they'll restore regular routing once construction wraps up. The agency typically provides advance notice before returning buses to normal routes, though a timeline for that notification wasn't specified.
Riders Should Plan Extra Time
Passengers should allow additional travel time and consider alternate routes if possible, transit officials said. The detour affects riders accessing stops along the closed Kennedy Street section between 13th and 14th streets. Moovit provides real-time C81 bus tracking and alternate route suggestions for Washington-area riders navigating the detour.
