Regional Jet 900 (CRJ900)
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Situational Awareness
Conflict Ground Conflict; Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Other / Unknown
Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors
Landed on 4R; were planning on exiting on Taxiway Y; on final approach we heard Tower ask the aircraft ahead of us to taxi off 4R onto 33R. We decided to use that as our secondary turn off point. Upon landing we decided we couldn't make Taxiway Y without excessively hard braking so we were looking for Runway 33R to taxi off onto as it was NOTAM'ed for taxi use only. We finally found it after stopping at the northern edge of 33R. Tower issued us taxi onto 33R clearance after we stopped; upon beginning our turn onto the poorly lit 33R one of our lights illuminated a taxi light that we would have struck if we continued our turn onto 33R. There was no lead-in lights for 33R and no illuminated lights for identifying it. We immediately told Tower we were unable to make the turn and straighten back out on 4R to continue down to Taxiway R. Tower questioned our unable so I told them we would hit lights if we attempted the turn. They gave us a clearance to Taxiway R and to expedite our taxi. As we straighten back out on 4R and were expediting the exit the Tower told the aircraft behind us to continue their landing as we would be clear of the runway. The aircraft behind us decided that we would not be clear and initiated a go-around. A poorly lit runway being used as a taxiway; ATC issuing late taxi-off instructions; and multiple aircraft being unable to locate and/or execute a turn off of 4R and onto 33R.Do not use 33R as a taxi off unless given an earlier clearance or expect clearance and better lighting of the runway that is to be used as a taxiway. Do not use a runway as a taxi off unless there are lead-in lights.
Landed 4R. Could not make Y Taxiway. Told to turn left on 33R; but struggled to see runway. We attempted a left turn; but a taxiway light would have been in the way. Instructed to expedite to R Taxiway. Aircraft landing behind us executed a go around. Clearance to exit runway onto 33R. Very difficult to identify. The aircraft in front struggled to find as well. We knew that 33R was taxi only; closed. With no lead in and barely any lighting it was very hard to find. Recommend not issuing exit on 33R at night.
CRJ900 flight crew reported unclear exits from Runway as well as dimly lit Taxiways.