The Institution of Civil Engineers journal "New Civil Engineer" has recognized the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Island Tunnel Project with its "2018 Tunnel Engineering Award of the Year" in the 1 billion U.S. dollar-plus project category, reports huanqiu.com.

Built by China Communications Construction, the island and tunnel project is the first Chinese mainland project to win the award.

It is also the third international engineering award that the bridge project has won this year. It also took home the "Global best project: bridge/tunnel" from the American Engineering News-Record and the "Major project of the year" award from the International Tunneling and Underground Space Association.

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has four parts, including a 22.9-kilometer steel bridge, two artificial islands, a 6.7 kilometers undersea tunnel, and leading bridges that connect the bridge to the three landing points.

The 6.7-kilometer tunnel is the world's longest submerged sea tunnel. The two artificial islands help to create a smooth transition between the bridge sections and tunnels. The bridge, which is the world's longest cross-sea bridge, opened to public traffic on October 24.