Airport surface
Taxiway Closure Markers
A taxiway closure marker shows that a taxiway is closed to aircraft. The standard painted marker is a yellow X, but in practice closed taxiways are marked far more often by barricades, by lighting that has been switched off or covered — or by nothing visible at all, with the closure existing only in the NOTAM package. This page covers each marker, how a closure reads as a NOTAM, and why the marker alone is not enough.
Awareness and training aid only. Always verify with official NOTAM briefings, current charts, approved EFBs, ATC, dispatch, and company procedures before any real operation.
What is a taxiway closure marker?
A taxiway closure marker is the physical marking placed on a taxiway to show that it is closed to aircraft. The standard painted marker is a yellow X — the same marking used for a closed runway, since FAA closure Xs are yellow on both runways and taxiways.
In practice a closed taxiway is rarely marked by paint alone. Because a taxiway closure is usually short-lived and tied to works in progress, it is far more often signalled by barricades across the entrance, by lighting changes, or simply by a NOTAM with nothing visible on the ground at all. That last case is the one that catches people out.
Types of taxiway closure marker
What you actually see at the entrance to a closed taxiway depends on how long the closure will last and what is happening on the pavement.
| Marker | Appearance | Typically used for |
|---|---|---|
| Painted yellow X | A yellow X painted on the taxiway surface | Longer-term closures where the taxiway is out of use for an extended period |
| Barricades | Low, brightly coloured barricades — often orange and white, frequently with flags or flashing lights — placed across the taxiway entrance | The most common marker for construction and works in progress |
| Lighting removed or covered | Centreline and edge lighting switched off, covered or removed on the closed section | Night operations, where absent lighting is the clearest cue |
| Raised markers or cones | Temporary raised units placed along or across the pavement | Short closures and partial-width restrictions |
| Nothing visible | No marking at all — the closure exists only in the NOTAM package | Very short closures, and closures that begin while you are already airborne |
The lighted X used on runways — the LXM, a portable illuminated unit that displays a flashing X at the threshold — is a runway device. It is not standard equipment for taxiway closures. For the runway side of this, including the painted X at each end and the LXM, see closed runway markings.
How a closed taxiway appears in the NOTAM package
Before any of the above is visible from the cockpit, the closure exists as a line of text. A taxiway closure at Minneapolis–St Paul (KMSP):
!MSP 08/207 MSP TWY P BTN TWY A AND TWY B CLSD WIP 2608260600-2608301800
Reading it in order:
!MSP— the accountable location.TWY P BTN TWY A AND TWY B— the subject and, critically, its extent. Taxiway P is not closed end to end; only the section between A and B is. Partial closures are the norm, and the extent is the part most often skimmed.CLSD— closed.WIP— works in progress. Expect equipment, people and barricades rather than paint.2608260600-2608301800— the window in year-month-day-hour-minute UTC.
This is a NOTAM (D) — the airport and facility category that carries surface closures. The shorthand is listed in full on our NOTAM abbreviations page.
Taxiway closure markers vs runway closure markers
The two are related but not interchangeable, and the differences matter when you are reading a chart or a question.
| Taxiway closure | Runway closure | |
|---|---|---|
| Painted X | Yellow X at the entrance to the closed section | Yellow X at each end, visible on approach from either direction |
| Lighted X (LXM) | Not standard equipment | Widely used for temporary closures — a portable illuminated X, usually flashing, visible at night and in poor visibility |
| Barricades | Very common, usually the primary marker | Used, particularly at the threshold and on connecting taxiways |
| Lighting | Centreline and edge lighting off or covered | Runway edge, threshold and approach lighting off |
| Notice type | NOTAM (D) | NOTAM (D) |
Why the marker alone is not enough
A marker tells you about the pavement you are looking at. The NOTAM package tells you about the pavement you are about to be cleared onto — including the section beyond the turn, at night, in low visibility, or on a field you have never taxied before.
Three practical points:
- Extent is the trap. "TWY P closed between A and B" is not "TWY P closed". Read to the end of the line.
- Timing is the second trap. A closure that begins during your turnaround will not be marked when you land and will be marked when you taxi out.
- An unmarked closure is still a closure. Short-notice closures frequently have nothing on the ground. If you see nothing but the package says closed, the package governs — and if a clearance conflicts with what you have read, query it.
This is the specific gap TaxiwayClosed AI is built for: it reads the whole package and marks each closed taxiway and runway with a cross on the airport diagram, so the closures are a picture before they are a reading exercise. It is an awareness aid, not a briefing — see data sources and limitations.
Frequently asked questions about taxiway closure markers
What is a taxiway closure marker?
A taxiway closure marker is the physical marking that shows a taxiway is closed to aircraft. The standard painted marker is a yellow X, though barricades, removed or covered lighting and temporary raised markers are used more often in practice.
What colour is a taxiway closure X?
Yellow. FAA closure Xs are yellow on both taxiways and runways, so a closed taxiway carries a yellow X at the entrance to the closed section, just as a closed runway carries one at each end.
Is a lighted X used on taxiways?
No. The lighted X, or LXM, is a portable illuminated unit used to mark temporary runway closures at the threshold. Taxiway closures are normally marked with barricades, lighting changes or a painted yellow X.
How do I know a taxiway is closed if there is no marker?
From the NOTAM package. Short-notice closures often have nothing visible on the ground, and the closure exists only as a NOTAM (D). If the package says closed and you see no marking, the package governs — query any clearance that conflicts with it.
Which type of NOTAM reports a closed taxiway?
A NOTAM (D). Surface closures are physical conditions at the airport, which is the category the D series reports.
What does WIP mean in a taxiway closure NOTAM?
WIP stands for works in progress. It indicates construction activity on the closed section, so expect equipment, personnel and barricades rather than painted markings.
Always verify with official sources
TaxiwayClosed AI is an awareness and training aid — it is not an official briefing and is never a substitute for one. Before any real flight, pull the current package from official sources such as FAA NOTAM Search, review the procedures in the FAA JO 7930.2 NOTAM order and in SKYbrary, use your approved EFB briefing, and confirm anything unclear with ATC, dispatch, or your CFI.
How this page is written and reviewed
Last reviewed . Written and maintained by the ETWINTECH LTD team that builds TaxiwayClosed AI. Definitions and procedures on this page are checked against FAA publications and SKYbrary; where they differ from anything here, the official source governs. ETWINTECH LTD is not an aviation authority and this page is not official guidance — see our data sources and limitations and safety advice. Spotted an error? Email contact@etwintech.com.
See every closed taxiway on the diagram
Download TaxiwayClosed AI, load a real NOTAM package, and let the AI pull out every closed taxiway and runway and mark each one with a cross on the airport map — including the ones with nothing painted on the ground.
Awareness and training aid only. Always verify with official NOTAM briefings, current charts, approved EFBs, ATC, dispatch, and company procedures before any real operation.