UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
UNAUDITED SUPPLEMENTARY DATA [Abstract]
Total revenues	$ 755,027		$ 873,579		$ 791,143		$ 574,420		$ 680,246	$ 813,568	$ 738,733	$ 538,162	$ 2,994,169	$ 2,770,709	$ 2,567,310
Gross profit	169,660		209,042		174,788		34,092		117,347	158,983	132,895	17,655	587,582	426,880	334,026
Operating earnings (loss)	99,892	[1]	140,331	[1]	103,246	[1]	194,669	[1]	53,829	99,767	86,866	(50,058)	538,138	190,404	84,781
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	38,349	[1]	67,781	[1]	46,511	[1]	54,505	[1]	10,097	42,150	30,128	(61,619)	207,146	20,756	(53,926)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 38,022	[1]	$ 66,939	[1]	$ 45,967	[1]	$ 53,995	[1]	$ 9,083	$ 41,363	$ 28,772	$ (54,836)	$ 204,923	$ 24,382	$ (52,593)
Basic earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.29		$ 0.51		$ 0.35		$ 0.42		$ 0.08	$ 0.32	$ 0.23	$ (0.47)	$ 1.58	$ 0.16	$ (0.42)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share from continuing operations	$ 0.29		$ 0.51		$ 0.35		$ 0.41		$ 0.08	$ 0.32	$ 0.23	$ (0.47)	$ 1.56	$ 0.16	$ (0.42)
Basic net earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.29		$ 0.51		$ 0.35		$ 0.41		$ 0.07	$ 0.32	$ 0.22	$ (0.42)	$ 1.56	$ 0.19	$ (0.41)
Diluted net earnings (loss) per share	$ 0.28		$ 0.50		$ 0.35		$ 0.41		$ 0.07	$ 0.31	$ 0.22	$ (0.42)	$ 1.54	$ 0.19	$ (0.41)

[1] Includes a $227,910 thousand pretax gain on the sale of our cement and concrete businesses in the Florida area as described in Note 19, primarily recorded in the first quarter.