Narrative:

[I was] cleared to taxi to runway 8R via taxiways west; north. After turning west on taxiway north; ground told us to stay to the right of the pad and monitor tower. Runway 8R construction had just been completed and I asked the first officer for help navigating to the right side of the pad via newly painted taxi lines. We were looking north-west toward the pad area and just past taxiway Z in a slow taxi; when out of the corner of my eye I saw a heavy jet on taxiway P converging. I stopped abruptly worrying about wingtip clearance; as did the other jet. The potential was there for a collision. He taxied to runway 12 and we transitioned to the north side of the pad once he cleared. We did not hear a 'give way' for either aircraft; and I had not heard his clearance which would have alerted me to an aircraft on taxiway P. We may have been late switching to tower while trying to comply with the taxi clearance; a warning may have been issued to us on tower frequency before we switched. This was a very close call! I was already at 14 hours since I awoke; so fatigue may have played a part. I also have multiple personal issues going on at this time in my life. I considered calling in sick but I didn't want to introduce another personal issue; company harassing me over sick time usage. If taxiway Q and M were used by aircraft taxiing to runway 12 and 8R; wingtip clearance would not be an issue. If either aircraft had been issued; a 'give way;' that would have helped. Perhaps it was given to the other aircraft and he didn't comply or it was given to us and we didn't hear it. Had ground included; 'keep to the right side of the pad for the heavy on taxiway P;' that could have helped with my situational awareness.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: An air carrier crew taxiing to MIA Runway 8 on Taxiway N reported taking evasive action to avoid a possible ground conflict with a heavy jet approaching Runway 12 on Taxiway P. The reporter claims that airport markings in the large holding pad are ambiguous and need clarification.

Narrative: [I was] cleared to taxi to Runway 8R via Taxiways W; N. After turning west on Taxiway N; Ground told us to stay to the right of the pad and monitor Tower. Runway 8R construction had just been completed and I asked the First Officer for help navigating to the right side of the pad via newly painted taxi lines. We were looking north-west toward the pad area and just past Taxiway Z in a slow taxi; when out of the corner of my eye I saw a heavy jet on Taxiway P converging. I stopped abruptly worrying about wingtip clearance; as did the other jet. The potential was there for a collision. He taxied to Runway 12 and we transitioned to the north side of the pad once he cleared. We did not hear a 'give way' for either aircraft; and I had not heard his clearance which would have alerted me to an aircraft on Taxiway P. We may have been late switching to Tower while trying to comply with the taxi clearance; a warning may have been issued to us on Tower frequency before we switched. This was a very close call! I was already at 14 hours since I awoke; so fatigue may have played a part. I also have multiple personal issues going on at this time in my life. I considered calling in sick but I didn't want to introduce another personal issue; company harassing me over sick time usage. If Taxiway Q and M were used by aircraft taxiing to Runway 12 and 8R; wingtip clearance would not be an issue. If either aircraft had been issued; a 'give way;' that would have helped. Perhaps it was given to the other aircraft and he didn't comply or it was given to us and we didn't hear it. Had Ground included; 'keep to the right side of the pad for the heavy on Taxiway P;' that could have helped with my situational awareness.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of April 2012 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.