Melb freeway tunnel plan open to comment

Melbourne's West Gate Freeway will stay open during peak hour as boring machines shift 1.5 million cubic metres of rock and dirt to dig new tunnels.

The public has 30 business days to read and comment on a 10,000-page environmental effects statement for the $5.5 billion West Gate Tunnel, released on Monday.

The massive project of two, three-lane tunnels under Yarraville will connect to CityLink and is a partnership between Transurban and the Andrews Labor government.

The tunnels are predicted to remove 9300 trucks from residential streets by creating better port access and allowing the government to spread truck road bans further.

Transurban will also get an extended toll deed under the agreement, which will have to pass parliament.

However, the EES predicts the an increase in traffic in some areas because of the extended bans and toll road avoidance and many areas will be impacted by noise during the construction period.

About 2500 trees will be removed during construction and about 14,900 replacement trees will be planted.

Roads Minister Luke Donnellan told reporters on Monday the EES considered human impacts in a Victorian first and there were "no noticable changes" in terms of health for residents during the development.

He said once completed, the project would cut travel times by up to 20 minutes.