MD-82
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Total 21000
Communication Breakdown; Distraction; Confusion; Situational Awareness
ATC Issue All Types; Conflict Ground Conflict; Critical
Flight Crew Took Evasive Action
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors; Airport
After landing; we slowed and took the second high speed exit. After exiting the runway on the high speed we were headed straight for a RJ that was slowly taxiing through the intersection. We did not see the aircraft until the lights of our aircraft was shining directly onto the RJ. With all the construction lights flashing in the background and the bright lights of the terminal ramp the RJ blended into the environment and until we had our landing lights aimed in the RJ's direction he was invisible. Had to apply heavy breaking to avoid hitting the RJ. The RJ had exited the runway at [the previous high speed exit] I guess and was given the same routing. I do not know if he was told to hold short of [our exit] or not but we were not given any warning of an aircraft at the exit. If we are going to be using this routing at night there needs to be a controller assigned to control this area as the tower controller is way too overloaded to be controlling the runways and taxiways at the same time. Either that or establish a hold short of each runway exit until there is no aircraft on the landing roll that can use that exit. (This is what other airports do with similar taxiways.)With the old way of holding short to cross [the parallel runway] aircraft were in the parallel taxi-way far enough to allow the landing aircraft to exit and pass behind if necessary. There was no immediate danger on this landing as we saw the RJ in time to stop; however add wet runway; low visibility and the outcome could be very different.
An MD-82 flight crew; exiting the runway on a highspeed taxiway encountered a regional jet established on the parallel taxiway. ATC did not inform them and the bright lights of the construction area and terminal area obscured the RJ until the MD-82's landing lights illuminated it. The Captain applied heavy breaking and avoided colliding with the RJ.