Construction is to tie up traffic in Cambridge's Lafayette Square for two years, officials suggest. (Photo: Alex Mavradis)

Since when has it taken an entire Led Zeppelin album to get through half of Massachusetts Avenue?

Instead of enjoying Robert Plant’s normally ecstatic high notes, I’ve became irritated at the screech of his voice, and the tractor trucks strewn all across the avenue start to sound like one big, bad noise.

Driving from anywhere in Boston to Central Square has become a task for anyone but the faint of heart — or patience. Prepare to spend a good ol’ time maneuvering through enough potholes, roadblocks and detour signs to last a lifetime. Then of course there are the two lanes merging into one past the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Nothing brings on a case of road rage like a driver who acts as if he or she did not know Massachusetts Avenue had just turned into a convention of street cones, orange suits and bored cops.

Last night I had the urge to go to the Border Café in Harvard Square, then thought better of it. After all, at the rate we’re going, one may as well fly to Cancun and risk a hurricane for Mexican fare sometime this century.

According to the Cambridge Department of Public Works, we can look forward to two whole years of this project. Oh, you read it right the first time. One of the objectives of this project is to “minimize impacts on parking and loading.” Excuse me while I laugh myself into a stupor. The words “Boston area” and “parking” are about as close as a Red Sox and Yankees Fan.

Primary funding for the construction is provided by the Massachusetts Highway Department, in addition to partial funding by the city of Cambridge.

The project provides a 24-hour line for emergencies. I wonder if a craving for Mexican food qualifies as one.

 Mona Johany lives in Boston.