In 2017, a 6.7 magnitude earthquake knocked down the Anao-aon Bridge in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is now replacing it with a structure that will ensure the previous incident never happens again.

According to the DPWH, the new Anao-aon Bridge will be the country’s first “earthquake-resistant” bridge, thanks to its modern design and the utilization of corrugated steel plates (CSP) as the primary building material. Construction began in August 2018 and is now over 85% complete, the agency says. Total cost? P179,919,988 .

The DPWH says that CSP will soon be part of most of the agency’s projects, which comprise more highways, bridges, and even airports. CSP is supposedly easier to install than conventional building materials, and is also more durable against corrosion.

PHOTO: DPWH

“Additionally, concrete bridges are only expected to last 40 to 50 years; however, bridges built with CSP have a lifespan of 70 years . In case of deterioration, the affected portion can be effortlessly replaced with new CSP material to restore the integrity of the structure,” the DPWH said in a statement.

“On top of that, the flexibility and the lightweight characteristic of steel make it earthquake-resistant compared to concrete structures,” the agency added, also pointing out that the new design is superior in terms of weight distribution.

By the looks of it, the final product is going to be a pretty thing to look at as well. Would you like to see more of these structures built around the Philippines? Let us know in the comments.

This story originally appeared on Topgear.com.ph . Minor edits have been made by the Esquiremag.ph editors.