Narrative:

We contacted ground for taxi to runway 17 at avl. Ground told us to taxi to runaway 17 on a; east; B4. When we turned onto taxiway a; I asked my first officer (first officer) to clarify that we were to taxi to 17 via a; east; B4 and back taxi on 17. Ground confirmed back taxi on 17; never stating hold short of 17. As we passed through the construction area of the new runway and turned onto 17 for the back taxi ground told us to monitor tower. The tower confirmed our back taxi again and said 'not a problem; but so you know for the future there is a hold short line in the construction area on B4'. Since we were on the runway; I did not attempt to clarify that ground had given the instruction they gave at this time. After we departed I told the tower controller that I was understanding that the previous controller had cleared us for the back taxi and apologized for the confusion. He said 'no problem at all and have a safe flight'. We were the only aircraft taxiing at the time and there was no aircraft arriving either. I believe we followed the clearance we were given to taxi to runway 17 but due to being told about the hold short line; I'm filing this [report]. Additionally; the markings in the construction area are very faded and difficult to see. While I did see them; I thought I was following the taxi clearance issued to us and that he was the only controller working.the contributing factors were the construction of the new runway and taxiway connectors. When we called back to clarify our clearance; ground confirmed the back taxi on runway 17. The controllers lack of a hold short assignment lead me to believe he was also covering the tower frequency. The faded paint and the construction equipment also make the transition for a back taxi more challenging.I would suggest repainting the hold short line on B4. The controller should have issued a hold short of runway 17 on B4 clearance. We should have been more specific when inquiring about the back taxi on 17 and specifically asked about holding short for the back taxi.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: Air carrier Captain reported a possible runway incursion due to miscommunication of ATC clearance.

Narrative: We contacted ground for taxi to runway 17 at AVL. Ground told us to taxi to runaway 17 on A; E; B4. When we turned onto taxiway A; I asked my FO (First Officer) to clarify that we were to taxi to 17 via A; E; B4 and back taxi on 17. Ground confirmed back taxi on 17; never stating hold short of 17. As we passed through the construction area of the new runway and turned onto 17 for the back taxi ground told us to monitor tower. The tower confirmed our back taxi again and said 'Not a problem; but so you know for the future there is a hold short line in the construction area on B4'. Since we were on the runway; I did not attempt to clarify that ground had given the instruction they gave at this time. After we departed I told the tower controller that I was understanding that the previous controller had cleared us for the back taxi and apologized for the confusion. He said 'No problem at all and have a safe flight'. We were the only aircraft taxiing at the time and there was no aircraft arriving either. I believe we followed the clearance we were given to taxi to runway 17 but due to being told about the hold short line; I'm filing this [report]. Additionally; the markings in the construction area are very faded and difficult to see. While I did see them; I thought I was following the taxi clearance issued to us and that he was the only controller working.The contributing factors were the construction of the new runway and taxiway connectors. When we called back to clarify our clearance; ground confirmed the back taxi on runway 17. The controllers lack of a hold short assignment lead me to believe he was also covering the tower frequency. The faded paint and the construction equipment also make the transition for a back taxi more challenging.I would suggest repainting the hold short line on B4. The controller should have issued a hold short of runway 17 on B4 clearance. We should have been more specific when inquiring about the back taxi on 17 and specifically asked about holding short for the back taxi.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.