Residents fear that new plans to tunnel as shallow as 12 metres below homes along the WestConnex route will lead to widespread damage above the motorway in Sydney's inner west.

An updated map for the M4-M5 link shows contractors altered the route for stage three of the $16.8 billion mega-toll road. It will run below 4500 homes.

Sue Templeman is among at least 4500 Sydney residents whose homes lie in the project's "zone of influence". Credit:James Brickwood

In 2017, an environmental impact statement for the project, indicated the bulk of the tunnels of the M4-M5 link between Haberfield and St Peters would range between 20 and 50 metres below ground.

But the latest plans show the tunnels up to 20 metres closer to the surface in some areas.