Forsyth County's Big Creek Greenway has received an award for engineering excellence from the Georgia Engineering Alliance.

According to a news release from the county, projects statewide were judged on their originality, complexity and contributions to society, among other criteria.

The 6.8-mile greenway trail runs along Big Creek in south Forsyth.

The first three phases, which extend north from McFarland Parkway to Bethelview Road, were opened in fall and winter 2009.

The final two phases will take the trail from Bethelview to the Sawnee Mountain Preserve Visitor Center. Those segments are in the design phase.

Representatives from Pond & Co., the firm who designed the county trail, and Tim Allen, the county's assistant director of engineering, accepted the award last month during Georgia Engineers Week.