Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 107,936	$ 87,296	$ (265,400)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment			376,574
Depreciation and amortization	55,972	59,410	61,457
Stock-based compensation expense	18,615	6,623	9,470
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value			264
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(787)	(1,148)
Deferred income taxes	21,460	9,009	(25,606)
Loss on sale of investments	1,786		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	801	49	316
Other long-term liabilities	3,074	23,107	(5,104)
Other non-cash items	3,273	(3,719)	148
Changes in other components of working capital	(268,808)	(129,899)	(222,681)
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(56,678)	50,728	(67,863)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment, excluding finance purchases	(75,013)	(42,360)	(41,352)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	5,335	2,663	11,759
Investment in available-for-sale securities			(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	44,497		16,553
Change in restricted cash	(1,776)	(3,877)	(3,280)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(26,957)	(43,574)	(16,855)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	1,156,739	653,280	688,425
Repayment of debt	(1,026,349)	(676,795)	(626,122)
Business acquisition related payments	(26,430)	(31,038)	(11,462)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	787	1,148
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,771)	(1,882)	(308)
Debt issuance costs	(3,681)		(1,999)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	99,295	(55,287)	48,534
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	15,660	(48,133)	(36,184)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	119,923	168,056	204,240
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	135,583	119,923	168,056
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	(95,501)	(122,875)	225,100
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	95,501	122,875	(225,100)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	107,936	87,296	(265,400)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	4,592	10,893	5,373
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(95,501)	(122,875)	225,100
Stock-based compensation expense	19,256	6,623	9,470
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value			264
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(787)	(1,148)
Deferred income taxes	39,186	921	(20,220)
Loss on sale of investments	1,786		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	833
Other long-term liabilities	20,221	24,359	(2,518)
Other non-cash items	(7,029)	(4,341)	(228)
Changes in other components of working capital	(26,100)	72,359	25,251
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	64,393	74,087	(20,209)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment, excluding finance purchases	(17,626)	(21,267)	(15,041)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	(784)	6	364
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	44,497		16,553
Change in restricted cash	15,464	11,403	(3,251)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	41,551	(9,858)	(1,375)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	1,078,932	627,520	688,425
Repayment of debt	(957,830)	(647,795)	(601,282)
Business acquisition related payments	(26,430)	(31,038)	(11,462)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	787	1,148
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(1,772)	(1,882)	(308)
Debt issuance costs	(3,681)		(1,999)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(209,858)	12,150	(122,063)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(119,852)	(39,897)	(48,689)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(13,908)	24,332	(70,273)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	88,995	64,663	134,936
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	75,087	88,995	64,663
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	86,089	109,894	(232,348)
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment			376,574
Depreciation and amortization	51,109	48,246	55,812
Stock-based compensation expense	(641)
Deferred income taxes	(17,726)	8,088	(5,386)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(32)	49	316
Other long-term liabilities	(17,147)	(1,252)	(2,586)
Other non-cash items	10,302	622	376
Changes in other components of working capital	(264,203)	(184,543)	(268,525)
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(152,249)	(18,896)	(75,767)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment, excluding finance purchases	(57,387)	(21,093)	(26,311)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	6,119	2,657	11,395
Investment in available-for-sale securities			(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities	0
Change in restricted cash	2,766	441	(29)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(48,502)	(17,995)	(15,480)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	77,807	25,760
Repayment of debt	(68,519)	(29,000)	(24,840)
Business acquisition related payments	0
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	1
Debt issuance costs	0
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	210,195	(16,223)	137,980
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	219,484	(19,463)	113,140
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	18,733	(56,354)	21,893
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	18,031	74,385	52,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	36,764	18,031	74,385
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	9,412	12,981	7,248
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	271	271	272
Changes in other components of working capital	21,495	(17,715)	20,593
NET CASH (USED) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	31,178	(4,463)	28,113
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(20,006)	(15,721)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(20,006)	(15,721)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(337)	4,073	(15,917)
NET CASH PROVIDED (USED) BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(337)	4,073	(15,917)
Net Increase/(Decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents	10,835	(16,111)	12,196
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	12,897	29,008	16,812
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year	$ 23,732	$ 12,897	$ 29,008