The Hengqin Bridge is safe and erosion problems are under control, said Gu Shengjie, director of the highway bureau of Zhuhai, Guangdong Province Saturday.

The authority's response was an attempt to assuage public concern over an earlier media report showing that some cement beams on the bridge had cracks and some have even lost a layer of cement revealing rusted steel reinforcement bars.

After two quality checks in 2007 and 2010 respectively, the bridge met requirements for normal operations, said Gu.

The cracks in the beams were due to the erosion by sea water since the 1,425-meter-long bridge was opened 13 years ago, said Gu, adding that the bridge will undergo a huge maintenance project.

The bridge is the only link between the Hengqin Island and the land.