Air carrier Captain reported attempting to exit the runway after landing only to discover that the taxiway had been barricaded. After contacting multiple parties; airport personnel finally assisted by temporarily removing the barricades to allow the aircraft to pass through. The reporter contributed the poor lighting of the runway and taxiway environment; the lack of NOTAMs referencing the barricades; and the airport's short-staffing contributed to the event.

Narrative

Conducted normal flight; approach; and landing to the airport at night after the operating hours of the local Control Tower. After slowing to a normal taxi speed; I began an extremely slow turn onto taxiway since the lighting was very poor and I was unfamiliar with the airport environment and I did not want to risk an excursion. However; after turning and mostly exiting the runway; we discovered that the taxiway had been barricaded. We came to a smooth stop and assessed whether we could safely make a turn back onto the runway to back taxi to a different taxiway but determined it would potentially risk an excursion of the nose wheel to do so. We notified enroute Center that we were able to cancel IFR but that we were still slightly blocking the landing runway. We notified Dispatch and were eventually able to get Ground Operations on the radio after 15 minutes of attempts via radio; phone; as well as Dispatch and ATC all attempting to make contact. I suggested to Operations to push us back about 10 ft. so we could make the turn safely but they advised they did not have push equipment. Ultimately; airport personnel came out and removed the barricades so that we could exit the runway; taxi south on the taxiway; and back on the runway in order to make it to the terminal and deplane our passengers normally. During this time the FO and I re-reviewed the NOTAMs and could not see any reference to the exit taxiway being closed; nor the taxiway south; nor the subsequent entryway back onto the runway; yet all these paved surfaces were barricaded. The taxiway north of where we exited was NOTAMed closed but at no time did we operate on any of that pavement. I am detailing this narrative on the advice that even after rereading the NOTAMs several times that there might still be an item that was missed by myself and my FO. Upon reviewing NOTAMs while writing this I see that a new NOTAM closing this specific area of the taxiway was issued after this event on the date of Day 0; or about 1 hour after we deplaned at the terminal.Cause: Poor lighting of the runway and taxiway environment. Barricading of paved surfaces without issuing printed NOTAMs. Failure of Ground Operations to monitor the frequency due to staffing levels.Suggestions: Better staffing. Better lighting. More timely issuance of relevant NOTAMs.