GOODWILL (Changes in Carrying Amount of Goodwill by Reportable Segment) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2008
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill of divested businesses			$ (5,195,000)	[1]
Goodwill of acquired businesses	13,303,000	[1]
Goodwill	3,094,824,000		3,081,521,000		3,086,716,000		3,086,716,000
Aggregates
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill of divested businesses			(5,195,000)	[1]
Goodwill of acquired businesses	13,303,000	[1]
Goodwill	3,003,191,000		2,989,888,000		2,995,083,000		2,995,083,000
Asphalt Mix
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill of divested businesses			0	[1]
Goodwill of acquired businesses	0	[1]
Goodwill	91,633,000		91,633,000		91,633,000		91,633,000
Concrete
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill of divested businesses			0	[1]
Goodwill of acquired businesses	0	[1]
Goodwill	0		0		0		0
Calcium [Member]
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill of divested businesses			0	[1],[2]
Goodwill of acquired businesses	0	[1],[2]
Goodwill	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]	0	[2]
Goodwill, accumulated impairment losses									$ 252,664

[1] Refer to Note 19 for additional details.

[2] The goodwill for the Calcium (formerly Cement) segment of $252,664 thousand was fully impaired in 2008.