Commercial Fixed Wing
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 114; Flight Crew Type 95
Confusion; Time Pressure; Situational Awareness
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Airport
Last leg of a 3-day pairing. FO [First Officer] was flying pilot. We were assigned RWY 27L ILS in visual conditions. FO flew on speed and touched down more than 1;000 feet down the runway but well within the touchdown zone. Though MED brakes were selected along with maximum reverse thrust; we were unable to make Taxiway A-1. As control was transferred to me during the rollout; I eased off the brakes a bit; intending to exit left at RWY 4L; which is closed but able to be used for turnoff from RWY 27L. As I began looking for the left turnoff beyond Taxiway A-1; I realized that RWY 4L no longer has any illuminated markings. I recently upgraded to the left seat from the right seat of [another aircraft type] and had not made a night landing on RWY 27L in several years; not since the runway was closed and all illuminated markings were removed. There are no lead-off lines; no taxiway centerline lights; and no taxiway edge lights. At night; RWY 4L left exit from RWY 27L is a dark spot between normally spaced RWY edge lighting. This being the case; I realized that I knew generally where the turn off was; but not exactly. My FO did not immediately realize my confusion until I was carrying excessive speed approaching the turn off. As I began to leave the centerline to make the turn off; I braked firmly and steadily; slowing to an almost stop at the right edge of the RWY 4L 'taxiway' location. Our nose was just short of the taxiway edge markings and I could see the edge lights in front of me. Since ATC had vectored our trailing aircraft so closely to us; I opted to do a slow speed; sharp left turn (similar to lining up on the runway for takeoff) in order to regain the taxiway centerline and exit the active runway. Though this entire evolution took very little time; the poor markings and momentary loss of orientation on my part made me extremely uncomfortable.
Air carrier Captain reported poor runway turnoff markings at ORD airport contributed to a momentary loss of orientation.