Segment Reporting (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Total Revenues
Net sales	$ 657,457,000	$ 692,758,000	$ 1,113,773,000	$ 1,157,293,000
Delivery revenues	44,514,000	43,394,000	75,398,000	72,122,000
Total revenues	701,971,000	736,152,000	1,189,171,000	1,229,415,000
Gross Profit
Gross profit	100,840,000	122,335,000	93,734,000	123,230,000
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	92,137,000	97,280,000	182,723,000	191,476,000
Segment Reporting (Textuals)
Number of operating segments	4		4
Aggregates [Member]
Total Revenues
Segment revenues	478,400,000	513,900,000	810,100,000	855,200,000
Intersegment sales	(39,500,000)	(42,400,000)	(69,300,000)	(74,500,000)
Net sales	438,900,000	471,500,000	740,800,000	780,700,000
Gross Profit
Gross profit	102,800,000	122,000,000	113,600,000	137,400,000
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	71,100,000	74,900,000	141,200,000	148,100,000
Concrete [Member]
Total Revenues
Segment revenues	98,200,000	105,000,000	180,400,000	188,000,000
Intersegment sales	0	0	0	0
Net sales	98,200,000	105,000,000	180,400,000	188,000,000
Gross Profit
Gross profit	(9,000,000)	(5,600,000)	(23,400,000)	(21,700,000)
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	13,200,000	13,400,000	26,200,000	26,400,000
Asphalt mix [Member]
Total Revenues
Segment revenues	110,900,000	103,500,000	175,500,000	166,500,000
Intersegment sales	0	0	0	0
Net sales	110,900,000	103,500,000	175,500,000	166,500,000
Gross Profit
Gross profit	8,300,000	7,300,000	8,100,000	8,300,000
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	2,000,000	2,300,000	3,900,000	4,500,000
Cement [Member]
Total Revenues
Segment revenues	16,800,000	22,900,000	33,400,000	40,800,000
Intersegment sales	(7,300,000)	(10,100,000)	(16,300,000)	(18,700,000)
Net sales	9,500,000	12,800,000	17,100,000	22,100,000
Gross Profit
Gross profit	(1,300,000)	(1,400,000)	(4,600,000)	(800,000)
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	4,700,000	5,200,000	9,100,000	9,600,000
Corporate and other unallocated [Member]
Depreciation, Depletion, Accretion and Amortization
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	$ 1,100,000	$ 1,500,000	$ 2,300,000	$ 2,900,000

The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
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Aggregate revenue during the period from the sale of goods in the normal course of business, after deducting returns, allowances and discounts.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Article 5
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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
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-Article 5
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-Paragraph 1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 225
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-Section S99
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
-Subparagraph a, b, c
-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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