The project will improve freight access to the Port of Melbourne.

Victoria's AUD38 billion transport project will remove thousands of trucks from Melbourne's residential streets and improve freight access to the Port of Melbourne.

According to Minister for Roads and Ports, Tim Pallas, the two-stage project would include a new link from the West Gate Freeway into the Port of Melbourne via Hyde Street and upgrades to other roads.

The project is expected to generate up to 10,000 jobs a year during construction, resulting in more than 100,000 jobs over the life of the plan.

Pallas says the first stage will deliver a new link at Hyde Street, opening up access for trucks heading along the West Gate Freeway and Princes Highway, as well as traffic from the Western Ring Road.

Hyde and Whitehall Streets will also be upgraded as part of the plan to provide efficient access to and from the Port of Melbourne.

The second stage will upgrade Sunshine Road, Dempster Street and Paramount Road, which will link with and complement the new road tunnel to be built between Geelong Road and the Port of Melbourne.

"The Truck Action Plan will work in conjunction with the new road tunnel, costing more than AUD2.8 billion, and running from Geelong Road, West Footscray, to Footscray/Dynon roads in the Port of Melbourne precinct," he says.

"The efficient movement of freight affects our everyday lives, the delivery of our household goods and the number of jobs in Victoria - and that freight task is expected to double in the next 20 years."

Pallas says the Brumby government recognises the importance of the freight industry to the state's economy and has made significant investment in key freight projects across Victoria in its Freight Futures strategy.