CAPT OF ACR LGT ACFT INADVERTENTLY TAXIED OFF TXWY ENRTE TO GATE RESULTING IN ACFT BEING TEMPORARILY STRANDED.

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WHILE TAXIING ON 'ARC' TXWY TOWARD 'V' TXWY TO PROCEED TO TERMINAL AFTER LNDG ON RWY 3C; DUE TO VARIOUS CONDITIONS INCLUDING TXWY LIGHTS INOP; NUMEROUS SNOW REMOVAL VEHICLES PLOWING THE VICINITY OF 'ARC;' 'V;' AND 'W' INTXN AND INAPPROPRIATE TWR CTL INSTRUCTIONS; THE ACFT NOSEWHEEL LEFT THE HARD SURFACE OF 'ARC' TXWY BY ABOUT 3 FT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN ONTO 'V' TXWY. AFTER PROPER INSPECTION BY A MECH AND UNDER HIS GUIDANCE; THE ACFT WAS RETURNED TO THE HARD SURFACE UNDER ITS OWN PWR. PRIMARY CAUSAL FACTORS WERE A SECTION OF INOP LIGHTS ON 'ARC' TXWY JUST BEFORE THE 'V' AND 'W' INTXN WHICH; WITH THE ACCUMULATED SNOW; GAVE THE IMPRESSION WE HAD REACHED THE INTXN. IN ADDITION; THE TWR OPERATOR; WHO WAS ALSO HANDLING OTHER LNDG TFC; INSISTED WE SHOULD TURN AT THAT LOCATION TO ENTER 'V' TXWY. THE ERROR WAS DISCOVERED WHEN WE FELT THE NOSEWHEEL LEAVE THE HARD SURFACE. PROBABLY OVERRELIANCE ON THE TWR OPERATOR'S INSTRUCTIONS WAS THE MAJOR CAUSE OF THE EXCURSION. IN THE FUTURE; IF IT DOESN'T LOOK RIGHT; I WILL MAKE SURE I HAVE THE SIT RESOLVED BEFORE MOVING THE ACFT.