Rain-damaged Beijing roads to be repaired in two years

Repair work on all Beijing roads damaged in July's devastating downpour will be completed within two years, city authorities said Tuesday.

"All damaged roads will be renovated by the end of July 2014," the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport said in a press release.

The heaviest downpour in six decades hit the Chinese capital on July 21, killing 79 people and destroying roads, homes and power supply facilities.

Average precipitation hit 170 mm in the city proper, while a township in Fangshan District in the city's southwestern outskirts recorded 460 mm of rainfall.

Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport said 1,012 roads were damaged in the torrential rain, including 188 highways above county levels and 824 country roads linking suburban villages.

"Repairs on the highways above county levels will be completed before the end of next year, and the others will be repaired within two years," the document said.

It said the repair work would include reinforcing roadbeds, road surfaces and bridges as well as a revamp of drainage facilities.