DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2007 agreement
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS [Abstract]
Number of earn-out agreements				2vmc_NumberOfEarnOutAgreements
Payments received under 5CP earn-out		$ 13,031,000vmc_PaymentReceivedUnderEarnOut	$ 11,369,000vmc_PaymentReceivedUnderEarnOut
Cash transaction bonus payable		1,303,000vmc_CashTransactionBonusPayable	1,137,000vmc_CashTransactionBonusPayable
Pretax losses from discontinued operations	$ 3,683,000	$ 5,744,000	$ 8,017,000

Amount of gain (loss), before tax expense or benefit and not previously recognized, resulting from the sale of a business component.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 45

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6892542&loc=d3e957-107759

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 205

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6360339&loc=d3e1361-107760

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationGainLossFromDisposalOfDiscontinuedOperationBeforeIncomeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DiscontinuedOperationsAndDisposalGroupsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payments for the transaction bonus to certain key Chemicals employees based on prior year's 5CP earn-out results.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vmc_CashTransactionBonusPayable
Namespace Prefix:	vmc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of earn out agreements under which Basic Chemicals is required to make payments to the company.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vmc_NumberOfEarnOutAgreements
Namespace Prefix:	vmc_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Payments received from Basic Chemicals under the 5CP earn-out agreement included in discontinued operations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	vmc_PaymentReceivedUnderEarnOut
Namespace Prefix:	vmc_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration