Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Flight Crew Last 90 Days 195; Flight Crew Total 13250; Flight Crew Type 2925
Situational Awareness; Confusion
Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Clearance; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Ground Incursion Taxiway
Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Aircraft Aircraft Damaged; Flight Crew Became Reoriented
Airport; Human Factors
Landed on Runway 19L at TPA after a very thorough brief to include any closed taxiways (none listed on ATIS) and the likely route to the gate. Exited the runway to the right onto the closed Runway 10/28 and immediately given directions to taxi via a right turn on November then Lima to the ramp. I was the Captain performing the taxi from the left seat. I looked to the right and saw a taxiway placard indicating 'N' and thought that this was my turn. In reality; taxiway 'N' is parallel to Runway 10/28 and curves at the west end to meet up with this runway. I actually turned onto a closed portion of taxiway 'C' which is between Runway 10/28 and 'N'. Only the short section of taxiway 'C' between Runway 10/28 and 'N' was closed with small barricades the size of curbs in a store parking lot. The barricades were mostly white in color with some red accents and had two red lights on the top. At the time of the incident; there was still daylight but the sun was setting; and the lights were not on. I assume they are activated by a photocell when it gets dark. There was a set of barricades at each end of the approximately 100 feet of closed section of taxiway 'C'. I did not see the first set of barricades and went over them but saw the second set at the other end and immediately came to a stop. At the same time that I was bringing the aircraft to a stop; Tower called and told us the taxiway was closed. The Tower Controller said he would have someone come out to assist us. As we waited; the Tower Controller said that he thought we had gone over the first set of barriers. Neither the First Officer nor I felt anything in the seconds prior to stopping; but I elected to shut down both engines at that time in case there was any damage. After ground personnel arrived on scene and completed an inspection; I was informed that we caught the end of one of the small barricades and had a bolt lodged in the edge of the #1 (left; outboard) tire. The tire was still inflated; so we were towed to our originally assigned gate without further incident.
[Report Narrative Contained No Additional Information.]
B737 flight crew reported taxiing over a barricade after incursion onto a closed taxiway at TPA. Crew reported signage in the area was confusing.