A trench several hundred metres long is likely to be dug through Royal Park, creating up to 12 months of major disruption to park users and damaging the landscape for up to 20 years, as part of building the East West Link.

At least two of the three consortiums bidding to build the road favour "cut-and-cover" construction through Royal Park rather than boring a tunnel underground, the expert planning panel assessing the project was told at a public hearing on Monday.

Royal Park is set to be damaged for up to 20 years by the cut-and-cover construction planned for the East West Link. Credit:David Tatnall

This could involve digging a trench part or all of the way along the road's alignment between the tunnel portal at Ross Straw Field in the park's west and a location in the middle of the park about 200 metres east of Elliott Avenue.

The managers of Urban Camp, a popular accommodation site in the park used by schoolchildren from regional Victoria, has been approached by all three consortiums bidding to build the road and advised to consider relocating during construction.