A large section of Hullbridge Road, Rayleigh, collapsed on Sunday following a burst water main.
Essex and Suffolk Water is carrying out urgent repairs on one of the 28-inch cast iron water mains, which fractured and caused serious damage to the road.
The road remained closed in both directions throughout yesterday.
Essex Highways hope the work will be fully completed by Friday, with the closure expected to remain in place until at least the middle of the week.
Michael Hoy, Rochford councillor for Hullbridge, said: “Even just one of these big roads being closed causes problems elsewhere, including on the A127 and Eastwood Road.