After a 4.8 magnitude earthquake hit New Jersey on April 5, inspectors have been checking bridges across the state for any signs of damage. Starting from the epicenter in Hunterdon County, the inspectors worked their way outwards, examining the state's 6,820 road bridges and 691 NJ Transit bridges.
According to the Department of Transportation, no damage has been found on the bridges they inspected. Local bridge owners also reported no damage. Steve Schapiro, a spokesperson for the New Jersey Department of Transportation, confirmed the inspections and the findings.
The earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded in New Jersey, caused tables to rattle and windows to shake. People felt the quake from Washington to Boston. Despite the strength of the quake, it caused little damage.
Governor Murphy advised homeowners to inspect their homes for any structural damage. If they have any concerns, they should reach out to official state agencies.
The quake provided a unique opportunity for scientists studying New Jersey's geologic history to gather new data. Geologists from Columbia University and Rutgers University were among those who rushed to the epicenter area to take measurements and record data.
While earthquakes in New Jersey are less common than in places like California, they are not unheard of. The state sits entirely on the North American Plate, and its major fault system, the Ramapo Fault, was created differently than the San Andreas Fault in California. The recent earthquake and its aftershocks offer valuable information for scientists studying the state's underlying bedrock and fault systems.