-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 VL8+mJQ7npIo+cTQDNd24GaXeMkc/gy5RqyD4lo+fSdN8QSAwC6UM0HBMGArphKz
 JTa/g/UpZvY+bBVqLBkkAg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000077543-08-000104.txt : 20080924
<SEC-HEADER>0000077543-08-000104.hdr.sgml : 20080924
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20080924155316
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000077543-08-000104
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20080917
FILED AS OF DATE:		20080924
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20080924

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			PERINI CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000077543
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	GENERAL BUILDING CONTRACTORS - NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS [1540]
		IRS NUMBER:				041717070
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MA
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		73 MT WAYTE AVE
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01701
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5086282000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		73 MT WAYTE AVE
		CITY:			FRAMINGHAM
		STATE:			MA
		ZIP:			01701

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KLEIN MICHAEL R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001066062

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-06314
		FILM NUMBER:		081086599

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		WILMER, CUTLER & PICKERING
		STREET 2:		2445 M STREET NW
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20037-1420
		BUSINESS PHONE:		202-689-1240

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2001 K STREET, N.W.
		STREET 2:		SUITE 206
		CITY:			WASHINGTON
		STATE:			DC
		ZIP:			20006
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4_mrk091708ex.xml
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2008-09-17</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000077543</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>PERINI CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PCR</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001066062</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>KLEIN MICHAEL R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2001 K STREET, N.W.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>SUITE 206</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>WASHINGTON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>DC</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>20006</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2008-09-17</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>40000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>23.6726</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>185076</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>60955</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By 401(k) Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Represents the weighted average purchase price of shares purchased at prices ranging from $23.37 to $23.92 per share.  The
 reporting person hereby undertakes to provide upon request by the Securities and Exchange Commission staff, the issuer, or a
 security holder of the issuer, full information regarding the number of shares purchased at each separate price.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Susan C. Mellace, Attorney in fact</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2008-09-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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