West 72 Street begins at the Henry Hudson Parkway (NY 9A) and Riverside Boulevard. The exit for West 72 Street from the parkway has been permanently closed. Riverside Drive begins on the left at the first traffic light, where there is an oversized street name sign.

Photo taken May 2011.

West 72 Street runs east as a four-lane undivided road.

Photos taken May 2011.

West 72 Street intersects Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue at a pair of traffic lights. There are oversized street name signs at both intersections. The two roads cross at West 72 Street. Northbound traffic on Broadway is forced onto Amsterdam Avenue. There is a major subway station on this block of West 72 Street.

Photos taken May 2011.

West 72 Street continues east across the Upper West Side. There is an oversized street name sign at Columbus Avenue.

Photos taken May 2011.

West 72 Street ends here at Central Park West. Continue straight ahead into Central Park for the West Drive. The transverse road connecting West 72 Street to East 72 Street is one-way in the other direction. Motorists wishing to cross the park to the East Side must travel south to West 65 Street or north to West 81 Street.

Photo taken May 2011.

Skipping a substantial distance, East 72 Street runs east as a four-lane undivided road across the Upper East Side. There is a traffic light with an oversized street name sign at York Avenue.

Photos taken April 2012.

After York Avenue, East 72 Street narrows down to two lanes. There is still a double yellow line down the middle, but it is badly faded away and therefore difficult to see in the pictures. The eastern terminus of East 72 Street is a dead end near the East River. The buildings visible straight ahead are located on Roosevelt Island.

Photos taken April 2012.