Hockey hopes Vic East West Link proceeds

Digging has stopped on Melbourne's controversial East West Link, but Treasurer Joe Hockey still holds out hope Victoria will build the tunnel project.

Labor promised to scrap the $6.8 billion tollway tunnel if it won the November 2014 election, but pledged to fight to keep $3 billion in federal funding.

Mr Hockey said discussions were continuing with Premier Daniel Andrews about the future of the project and the future of the funding.

"I am still hopeful that Premier Andrews will change his position on East West," Mr Hockey told Fairfax Radio on Monday.

Mr Hockey said the project would create 6000 jobs, but also improve Victoria's freight productivity.

Labor stopped work on the project after the election, with preliminary digging works put on hold while its future is determined.

In December, the Andrews government released a previously secret business case showing the benefit cost ratio for East West Link was just 45 cents for every $1 spent.

This increased to 84 cents when wider economic benefits were taken into account.