Segment Reporting (Details Textual) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011 State	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Segment Reporting (Textual)
Number of operating segments	4
Number of operating regions	4
Radius range for delivering product, minimum	20
Radius range for delivering product, maximum	25
Long-lived assets outside of the Unites States	$ 142,988	$ 150,157	$ 163,479
Aggregates [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual)
Number of states in which segments serve	19
Number of additional states with railroad ballast served	8
Nondomestic net sales	$ 16,678	$ 23,380	$ 20,118
Concrete [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual)
Number of states in which segments serve	6
Percentage of product by weight in Aggregates	78.00%
Asphalt Mix [Member]
Segment Reporting (Textual)
Number of states in which segments serve	3
Percentage of product by weight in Aggregates	95.00%