MEA Profile: Valerie Hillen, Project Manager

Valerie Hillen is a Project Manager at Menlo Engineering Associates, Inc. and reports directly to the firm’s executive management team. 

Valerie Hillen has over 30 years of experience in the field of Civil Engineering with an emphasis on Highway and Traffic Signal Design.  She graduated from the College of Engineering at Rutgers University with a B.S. in Civil Engineering.  When Valerie joined Menlo Engineering in 1997, she brought with her a background in highway, traffic signal and site design.  As a Project Manager at Menlo Engineering, she focuses on the design, permitting, and construction services required for roadway improvement projects at both the private and public level.  Valerie uses AutoCAD and MicroStation as required by the various review agencies.  She designs and certifies the installation of traffic signals and barrier free/ADA curb ramps and sidewalks for State and local municipalities.

Valerie is responsible for the off-tract improvements often associated with site development projects.  These projects typically require obtaining DOT Access Permits and Utility Opening Permits, preparing Right-of-Way dedication documents, conforming to the stormwater regulations, providing an ADA-compliant design, and creating traffic control and staging plans.  For the Sam’s Club/Top Golf site on Route 1 in Edison, the various design phases included widening ½ mile of Route 1, modifying three traffic signals, and installing a new signal.  Approvals included integrating the signals with the State’s fiber optic systems and designing interim traffic signals for the various construction phases.  For the proposed Heritage at Middletown residential development, she modified an existing jughandle at Route 35 and Cherry Tree Farm Road to provide a connection to a realigned local street.  These improvements required a new traffic signal and detours.

At the local level, Valerie works on public improvement projects for various municipalities.  These projects often involve stormwater upgrades, utility relocations, and ADA-compliant designs, in addition to the preparation of public-bid documents.  The recently-completed widening of Lakeview Avenue in Piscataway included extensive front yard and driveway modifications requiring installation of block walls and decorative fence.  Due to the proximity to New Market Lake, Flood Hazard Area and Freshwater Wetlands Permits were obtained from the NJDEP.  In Montgomery, approximately 130 curb ramps were upgraded to be ADA-compliant along Blue Spring Road and Salisbury Road.  Proposed improvements to Brotherhood Street in Piscataway consist of reconstructing over ½ mile of roadway, installing curb and sidewalk, replacing a culvert, and obtaining right-of-way and easements from 49 lots.  Flood Hazard Area and Freshwater Wetlands Permits were obtained from the NJDEP due to the culvert.