SEGMENT REPORTING (Segment Financial Disclosure) (Details) $ in Thousands		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Jan. 31, 2015 property	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues			$ 1,038,460	$ 873,579	$ 2,564,896	$ 2,239,142
Gross profit			291,290	209,042	603,604	417,922
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization			69,662	71,157	204,770	208,858
Cash items			168,681	91,868	168,681	91,868	$ 141,273	$ 193,738
Total assets			8,316,866	8,069,645	8,316,866	8,069,645	$ 8,041,097
Number of asphalt mix plants | property		13
Identifiable assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1]		8,042,100	7,888,800	8,042,100	7,888,800
Segment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues			1,099,900	926,600	2,711,500	2,394,000
Aggregates [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	[2]		250,900	188,000	525,800	388,100
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	[2]		57,700	58,500	170,300	169,200
Aggregates [Member] | Identifiable assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1],[2]		7,533,200	7,409,100	7,533,200	7,409,100
Aggregates [Member] | Segment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[2]		830,800	688,900	2,067,700	1,752,600
Aggregates [Member] | Intersegment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues			(61,400)	(53,000)	(146,600)	(145,700)
Asphalt Mix [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	[3]		30,000	14,500	60,000	28,300
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	[3]		4,100	2,600	12,100	7,500
Asphalt Mix [Member] | Identifiable assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1],[3]		315,000	238,200	315,000	238,200
Asphalt Mix [Member] | Segment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[3]		178,900	136,400	410,900	330,000
Concrete [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	[3],[4]		9,600	5,500	15,300	(500)
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	[3],[4]		3,000	5,000	8,500	15,700
Concrete [Member] | Identifiable assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1],[3],[4]		188,300	235,600	188,300	235,600
Concrete [Member] | Segment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[3],[4]		88,000	99,000	226,400	288,800
Calcium [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Gross profit	[5]		800	1,000	2,500	2,000
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization	[5]		200	200	500	1,400
Calcium [Member] | Identifiable assets [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets	[1],[5]		5,600	5,900	5,600	5,900
Calcium [Member] | Segment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues	[5]		2,200	2,300	6,500	22,600
Calcium [Member] | Intersegment sales [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total revenues			0	0	0	(9,200)
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Depreciation, depletion, accretion and amortization			4,700	4,900	13,400	15,100
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total assets			$ 106,100	$ 88,900	$ 106,100	$ 88,900

[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, delivery and transportation revenues, and other revenues related to services.

[3] In January 2015, we exchanged our California ready-mixed concrete operations for 13 asphalt mix plants, primarily in Arizona (see Note 16).

[4] Includes ready-mixed concrete. In March 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.

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