The protective bars, called side underrun protection rails, stop a person from being dragged beneath a truck's wheels in a collision, instead knocking them out of the truck's path.

It is the first time heavy vehicle sideguards have been mandated on a major project in Victoria and follows the example of London's enormous Crossrail project.

The task of removing about two million cubic metres of spoil - soil, dirt and rubble resulting from an excavation - from the rail tunnel work sites is expected to require more than 340,000 truck trips around the inner city, many of them near popular bike routes.

The spoil will be trucked away from tunnel entrances in Kensington and South Yarra, and from the Domain underground station site on St Kilda Road.

The inherent risk of putting cycling and truck routes side by side was highlighted this month when Moonee Ponds woman Arzu Baglar??? was struck and killed while cycling across Whitehall Street in Yarraville.

Major construction of the tunnel is due to start next year. At the height of the $10.9 billion project, about 1300 truck trips will be made a day.

To reduce the risk of death or serious injury to cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians, the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority will require all trucks involved in construction of the tunnel and stations to be fitted with side-guards.

The authority has also urged bidders for the public-private partnership to investigate other safety measures, including specialist truck driver training and the use of audible warning devices.

"We're working closely with cycling groups and VicRoads to protect cyclists while we build the Metro tunnel," a spokesman said.

"We're also looking at what has worked on other big rail tunnel projects around the world, and will bring those lessons to Melbourne for the Metro tunnel."

Victoria's leading cycling group, Bicycle Network, said the authority had shown it was serious about keeping cyclists safe while the rail tunnel is built.

"Working with Melbourne Metro and all of the other players involved in this massive project has shown that the vulnerability of bike riders is recognised and that there is a strong commitment to find solutions to make the roads safer," spokesman Garry Brennan said.

But he said the Turnbull government had so far failed to show the same commitment, and could do so by mandating modern safety features such as sideguards on all trucks.

"The tragedy is that federal government inaction on safety standards means that heavy vehicles will remain a major hazard for other road users, especially bike riders," spokesman Garry Brennan said.

"Side underrun protection rails have proved highly effective where they have been introduced, and we are seeing some Australian companies beginning to voluntarily install them."

There is no requirement for heavy vehicle operators to fit them in Australia, although industry body the Australian Trucking Association promotes their use.

The Turnbull government has been contacted for comment.