Melburnians are set to pay a heavy price for the Melbourne Metro Rail project as large and defining parts of the city become long-term construction sites.

The controversial removal of mature trees from St Kilda Road could begin as early as next year, and the impact on the historic boulevard will be "significant and transformative", according to the rail project's own heritage experts.

Traffic along St Kilda Road will be severely restricted for at least two to three years when all but one lane of traffic is closed in each direction around the Domain tram interchange.

While planning for the project pushes ahead, there is growing community concern the process has been rushed and that construction methods with less impact have not been properly considered.