Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine; Flight Crew Instrument
Communication Breakdown; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Incursion Runway; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Flight Crew Became Reoriented; Flight Crew Returned To Clearance
Airport; Chart Or Publication
Exiting Runway 27C after landing; ATC issued issued instructions to taxi on Runway 4L; A1; and B. After turning onto 4L I began to look for the A1 signs; but didn't see any. I slowed the airplane; and confirmed with my First Officer that the unmarked taxiway was indeed A1. We came to an agreement; and verified as we proceeded down the taxiway by referencing a one-directional further down the taxiway. After looking at the sign to confirm; I noticed that I had inadvertently passed a hold short line for what appeared to be Runway 27L. The runway is closed and deactivated for construction; and no signage was present to denote the entrance to a runway. To further complicate the matter; the runway surface isn't depicted on the Jepp 10-9 taxiway diagram; making it seem like the runway is acting as a taxiway. It wasn't clear speaking with ATC after the fact if this is indeed the case. [Caused by] poor airport layout combined with poor charting were the primary causes that led us to inadvertently cross the hold-short line for the closed runway. The controller's instructions should have included a clearance to cross the closed runway; however confusion on the state of the runway led the controller to neglect the instruction. Suggest the NOTAMs included outages of both signs and lights concerning Runway 27L. With between 50-100 NOTAMS at ORD it is very difficult to discern where certain signs and lights are located. The airport needs to do a better job of signage if that taxi-route is used more frequently to avoid confusion.
Regional Jet Captain reported confusion with the amount of ORD NOTAMS; poor signage and charting; which resulted in taxiway and runway incursion.