Narrative:

Clearance was, taxi to runway 22L via the terminal ramp. We encountered unusual markings at intersection of Y and Q and again at Y and north. They appeared to be 'hold short' markings, but other aircraft were ahead of us and holding for takeoff between north and Q on Y while other aircraft were landing on runway 22L. The markings did not extend across taxiway Y, only to the centerline. We determined, based on tower clearances, that they were not intended to be hold short lines for taxiway Y. However, as it is impossible to taxi down taxiway Y without part of the aircraft extending across the lines we believe we may have committed a runway incursion. The lines are confusing and these intersections need to be re-marked to make their meaning clear. If the intent is to protect workers from jet blast from aircraft making intersection takeoffs, then simply prohibiting intersection departures during the construction would solve that problem.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN AIR CARRIER PILOT QUESTIONS THE MEANING OF HOLD SHORT LINES THAT PROTRUDE INTO THE PARALLEL TXWY FOR RWY 22L AT MDW, IL. HE QUESTIONS HOW TO INTERPRET A CLEARANCE TO THE RWY SINCE HIS ACFT MUST PASS OVER THE LINES AT TWO INTERSECTIONS BEFORE REACHING THE END OF THE RWY.

Narrative: CLEARANCE WAS, TAXI TO RWY 22L VIA THE TERMINAL RAMP. WE ENCOUNTERED UNUSUAL MARKINGS AT INTXN OF Y AND Q AND AGAIN AT Y AND N. THEY APPEARED TO BE 'HOLD SHORT' MARKINGS, BUT OTHER ACFT WERE AHEAD OF US AND HOLDING FOR TKOF BETWEEN N AND Q ON Y WHILE OTHER ACFT WERE LANDING ON RWY 22L. THE MARKINGS DID NOT EXTEND ACROSS TXWY Y, ONLY TO THE CENTERLINE. WE DETERMINED, BASED ON TOWER CLEARANCES, THAT THEY WERE NOT INTENDED TO BE HOLD SHORT LINES FOR TXWY Y. HOWEVER, AS IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TAXI DOWN TXWY Y WITHOUT PART OF THE ACFT EXTENDING ACROSS THE LINES WE BELIEVE WE MAY HAVE COMMITTED A RWY INCURSION. THE LINES ARE CONFUSING AND THESE INTERSECTIONS NEED TO BE RE-MARKED TO MAKE THEIR MEANING CLEAR. IF THE INTENT IS TO PROTECT WORKERS FROM JET BLAST FROM ACFT MAKING INTERSECTION TKOFS, THEN SIMPLY PROHIBITING INTERSECTION DEPARTURES DURING THE CONSTRUCTION WOULD SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

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.