Air carrier captain concern for new taxiway being confused for runway.

Attributes
ACN	170578
Time
Date	199102
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	1201 To 1800
Place
Locale Reference	airport : las
State Reference	NV
Altitude	agl bound lower : 0 agl bound upper : 0
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	artcc : zob
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	Medium Large Transport
Flight Phase	ground other : taxi
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	pilot : atp
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 250 flight time total : 8000 flight time type : 4000
ASRS Report	170578
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	other anomaly other
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	other
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Air Traffic Incident	other
Situations
Airport	other physical facility

Narrative:

I'm merely reporting what may be a problem 1 day. With the new construction of runway 25L at las, they added a taxiway between runway 25L and runway 25. That appears to be about the same width as each of the 2 runways. On final approach, this taxiway could be mistakened for either of the runways. But of even more concern to me is the possibility of taking off on this taxiway by mistake. When a pilot is cleared to 'takeoff on runway 25L,' he/she taxies across runway 25R and then may take the first right turn after 25R and make a rolling takeoff on the center taxiway (because it looks wide enough to be the runway). Granted, there would be no markings (annotating a runway) on that taxiway, but it could be confusing. Perhaps a 'taxiway' painted on the entryway to the taxiway would preclude its inadvertent use for takeoff. That may not be standard, but it's a thought. Or at least a note on the chart station that the wide taxiway should not be confused for either runway. Callback conversation with reporter revealed the following: reporter states he has been back since his report and feels the markings which have now been painted are quite clear and probably eliminate the problem he was concerned about.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: ACR CAPT CONCERN FOR NEW TXWY BEING CONFUSED FOR RWY.

Narrative: I'M MERELY RPTING WHAT MAY BE A PROB 1 DAY. WITH THE NEW CONSTRUCTION OF RWY 25L AT LAS, THEY ADDED A TXWY BTWN RWY 25L AND RWY 25. THAT APPEARS TO BE ABOUT THE SAME WIDTH AS EACH OF THE 2 RWYS. ON FINAL APCH, THIS TXWY COULD BE MISTAKENED FOR EITHER OF THE RWYS. BUT OF EVEN MORE CONCERN TO ME IS THE POSSIBILITY OF TAKING OFF ON THIS TXWY BY MISTAKE. WHEN A PLT IS CLRED TO 'TKOF ON RWY 25L,' HE/SHE TAXIES ACROSS RWY 25R AND THEN MAY TAKE THE FIRST RIGHT TURN AFTER 25R AND MAKE A ROLLING TKOF ON THE CENTER TXWY (BECAUSE IT LOOKS WIDE ENOUGH TO BE THE RWY). GRANTED, THERE WOULD BE NO MARKINGS (ANNOTATING A RWY) ON THAT TXWY, BUT IT COULD BE CONFUSING. PERHAPS A 'TXWY' PAINTED ON THE ENTRYWAY TO THE TXWY WOULD PRECLUDE ITS INADVERTENT USE FOR TKOF. THAT MAY NOT BE STANDARD, BUT IT'S A THOUGHT. OR AT LEAST A NOTE ON THE CHART STATION THAT THE WIDE TXWY SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED FOR EITHER RWY. CALLBACK CONVERSATION WITH RPTR REVEALED THE FOLLOWING: RPTR STATES HE HAS BEEN BACK SINCE HIS RPT AND FEELS THE MARKINGS WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN PAINTED ARE QUITE CLR AND PROBABLY ELIMINATE THE PROB HE WAS CONCERNED ABOUT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.