SEGMENT REPORTING (Segment Financial Disclosure) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Product sales	$ 795,096		$ 746,392		$ 2,034,521		$ 1,915,032
Freight and delivery revenues	78,483		67,176		204,621		175,431
Total revenues	873,579		813,568		2,239,142		2,090,463
Gross profit	209,042		158,983		417,922		309,533
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	71,157		78,320		208,858		230,877
Cash items	91,868		245,813		91,868		245,813		193,738	275,478
Total assets	8,091,538		8,310,056		8,091,538		8,310,056		8,259,143
Identifiable assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	7,888,800	[1]	7,984,200	[1]	7,888,800	[1]	7,984,200	[1]
Segments sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	926,600		882,400		2,394,000		2,259,900
Aggregates
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	188,000		149,800		388,100		301,700
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	58,500		56,700		169,200		169,200
Aggregates | Identifiable assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	7,409,100	[1]	6,936,500	[1]	7,409,100	[1]	6,936,500	[1]
Aggregates | Segments sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	688,900	[2]	596,800	[2]	1,752,600	[2]	1,528,800	[2]
Aggregates | Intersegment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	(53,000)		(56,500)		(145,700)		(134,500)
Concrete
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	5,500		(3,900)		(500)		(19,800)
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	5,000		8,400		15,700		24,500
Concrete | Identifiable assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	235,600	[1]	384,200	[1]	235,600	[1]	384,200	[1]
Concrete | Segments sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	99,000		129,800		288,800		349,900
Asphalt Mix
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	14,500	[3]	13,600	[3]	28,300	[3]	24,800	[3]
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	2,600	[3]	2,200	[3]	7,500	[3]	6,400	[3]
Asphalt Mix | Identifiable assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	238,200	[1],[3]	251,600	[1],[3]	238,200	[1],[3]	251,600	[1],[3]
Asphalt Mix | Segments sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	136,400	[3]	130,200	[3]	330,000	[3]	308,300	[3]
Cement
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	1,000	[4]	(500)	[4]	2,000	[4]	2,800	[4]
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	200	[4]	5,400	[4]	1,400	[4]	13,800	[4]
Cement | Identifiable assets
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	5,900	[1],[4]	411,900	[1],[4]	5,900	[1],[4]	411,900	[1],[4]
Cement | Segments sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	2,300	[4]	25,600	[4]	22,600	[4]	72,900	[4]
Cement | Intersegment sales
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	0		(12,300)		(9,200)		(34,900)
Other unallocated
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	4,900	[3]	5,600	[3]	15,100	[3]	17,000	[3]
Corporate
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	$ 110,800	[1]	$ 80,100	[1]	$ 110,800	[1]	$ 80,100	[1]

[1] Certain temporarily idled assets are included within a segment's Identifiable Assets but the associated DDA&A is shown within Other in the DDA&A section above as the related DDA&A is excluded from segment gross profit.

[2] Includes crushed stone, sand and gravel, sand, other aggregates, as well as freight and delivery revenues (see Note 1) associated with the aggregates business.

[3] Includes ready-mixed concrete. On March 7, 2014, we sold our concrete business in the Florida area (see Note 16) which in addition to ready-mixed concrete, included concrete block, precast concrete, as well as building materials purchased for resale.

[4] Includes cement and calcium products. On March 7, 2014, we sold our cement business (see Note 16).