For the fourth day in a row, protesters have gathered at the drilling site for the East West Link road project in Fitzroy.

After violence yesterday, the Linking Melbourne Authority has halted work at the test drilling site for the first stage of the 18-kilometre road project through inner city suburbs.

Police formed a line around the drill and about 100 protesters have linked arms but for now the scene remains peaceful.

There appears to be a smaller police presence than yesterday when protesters ripped down a temporary fence around the drilling site and scaled one of the drilling rigs.