MLG ALMOST STRIKES JETWAY AS IT IS PARKED AT GATE.

Narrative

PULLING INTO GATE IN SYR. I HAD TO STEER AROUND SOME BAG CARTS TO MY L. WE HAD A WING WALKER (WW) AND MARSHALLER TO OUR FRONT. AS I PASSED THE CARTS WITH THE WW GIVING A THUMBS UP WE PASSED THE JETWAY ABOUT 4 FT LATERAL. I NO LONGER COULD SEE THE WW AS THE JETWAY PASSED MY WINDOW MY ATTN WENT TO THE MARSHALLER WHO WAS GIVING ME THE COME AHEAD SIGNAL CONTINUOUSLY. I WAS SLOWING DOWN THINKING THE JET WAY WAS GETTING CLOSE TO THE WING. I GLANCED BACK WHILE SLOWING THE ACFT TO SEE THAT THE JETWAY WAS PARKED ON THE LINES AND THEN FORWARD TO SEE THE MARSHALLER WAVING ME FORWARD. JUST AS I STARTED TO BRAKE; CAUSE SOMETHING JUST WASN'T RIGHT; WE FELT A THUD AND I FINISHED APPLYING THE BRAKES QUICKLY. THE MARSHALLER WAS STILL FLAGGING ME FORWARD WITH A CONFUSED LOOK ON HIS FACE; THEN STOPPED WHEN HE FINALLY NOTICED SOMETHING WAS WRONG. IT TURNED OUT I NEVER HIT THE JETWAY. WE MISSED BY 1-3 INCHES ALL BECAUSE THE WW NOTICED THE JETWAY WAS PARKED ON THE WRONG LINES AND THREW THE CHOCKS UNDER THE L MAIN; THAT WAS THE THUMP. BOY WAS I RELIEVED! I WENT BELOW AND HAD A POW WOW WITH EVERYONE. THE LINES WERE IDENTICAL AND BOTH LOOKED OF FRESH PAINT. A CAN OF BLACK SPRAY PAINT ON THE OLD LINES WOULD HAVE ELIMINATED THE WHOLE PROBLEM. I ASKED THE MARSHALLER WHERE HIS HEAD WAS AND HE SAID; 'ON THE NOSE WHEEL CAUSE I TRUSTED THE LINES.' IF SOMEONE HAD JUST TOOK OFF THE OLD AFTER PAINTING THE NEW THIS WOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED.