Air carrier flight crew reported taxiing onto a closed taxiway and needing ground personnel to remove the barriers to proceed. The Captain stated that the wooden chock barriers with red tape were difficult to see and there were no remarks on the ATIS of the taxiway closure.
Synopsis
Air carrier flight crew reported taxiing onto a closed taxiway and needing ground personnel to remove the barriers to proceed. The Captain stated that the wooden chock barriers with red tape were difficult to see and there were no remarks on the ATIS of the taxiway closure.
Narrative
We had just landed on Runway 26L at HNL Airport. Tower said exit on R3 left on 'R' call GND. We got taxi instruction from GND to taxi on 'J' and hold short [Runway] 26R on 'J.' As we approached 26R on 'J;' GND gave further instructions of; Continue on 'J' cross Runway 26R; 'A' to the Ramp.' As we crossed 26R we realized we were actually on "A" now because "A" also crosses Runway 26R at the same spot. Taxiways J; A; V; T; and M all intersect at the end of the runway.On the north side of the runway Taxiway "A" makes a 90-degree right turn. We stopped before making this turn because we saw a taxiway closure marker on the taxiway. These are things that look like wooden chocks with some red tape on them. They are hard to see until you get close to them especially in low light. The sun had just set.We called GND Control and told them we made a wrong turn onto A and we now have a barrier in front of us on Taxiway 'A.' They said hold position and the GND crews would move the blocks. We watched the GND crew remove the blocks; then called GND back. Now GND said the GND crew wanted us to shut down and be towed because they were worried we would blast them. Note; no one was working on the taxiway at the time; everyone on the GND crew was in trucks. So we shut down the engines and waited for a tow down "A" and to our Ramp. There were no remarks on the ATIS of any taxiway closure or runway closure. I believe those wooden chocks with red tape on them are not good for showing a taxiway [is] closed. They are very hard to see until you get close to them; especially if you are 50 ft. above ground level in the cockpit of Aircraft X. They are not lit up in any way; they are apparently using reflective tape.I think this incident was caused by not having any information on the ATIS or from GND Control about taxiway closures to be aware of. Also; using closure marking devices that are hard to see and do not have lights on them. And there were no taxiway closure markers on the south side of the runway where 'A' and 'J' intersect that would have alerted us not to go that way across the runway. To prevent confusion in the future; they should always use taxiway closure marking with lights on them."
Second reporter narrative
At exit Runway 26L was given taxi clearance: Aircraft X exit R3; Romeo; right on Juliet; cross 26R on Juliet and Alpha to company. I read back instructions. When approaching Runway 26R Captain chose Alpha taxiway instead of Juliet. Told him but too late to stop. We crossed the closed runway and a small section of Alpha taxiway was closed so we stopped. Informed Ground Control that we had missed Juliet. They told us to shut engines down; call the company and get towed in. We did.Honest mistake but as a First Officer should have stepped on the brakes and asked for revised taxi clearance.
Source: NASA Aviation Safety Reporting System (public domain). Reports are voluntary submissions and are not verified by NASA.