Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 11,777	$ 28,545	$ 16,903	$ 44,484
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			21,434	30,078
Stock-based compensation expense			13,324	9,920
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(162)
Deferred income taxes			(177)	(64)
(Gain) loss on sale of investments				1,786
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			(313)	427
Other long-term liabilities			42	5,559
Other non-cash items			(3,259)	1,562
Changes in other components of working capital			(79,550)	(155,187)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(31,758)	(61,435)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(29,544)	(26,730)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			1,122	1,906
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities				44,497
Change in restricted cash			4,877	(33)
NET CASH (USED BY) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(23,545)	19,640
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt			473,490	717,484
Repayment of debt			(446,239)	(649,282)
Business acquisition related payments				(1,260)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			162
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise			(776)	(1,531)
Debt issuance costs				(3,681)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			26,637	61,730
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(28,666)	19,935
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year			135,583	119,923
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	106,917	139,858	106,917	139,858
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(6,586)	(31,748)	(18,526)	(47,029)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	6,586	31,748	18,526	47,029
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			101,660
NET CASH (USED BY) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES			101,660
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(101,660)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(101,660)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	11,777	28,545	16,903	44,484
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			5,964	4,866
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(6,586)	(31,748)	(18,526)	(47,029)
Stock-based compensation expense			13,324	9,920
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(162)
Deferred income taxes			(177)	4,672
(Gain) loss on sale of investments				1,786
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			29
Other long-term liabilities			(56)	6,624
Other non-cash items			1,881	(3,620)
Changes in other components of working capital			(159,846)	(53,928)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(140,666)	(32,225)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases				(16,715)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			(21,505)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities				44,497
Change in restricted cash				15,465
NET CASH (USED BY) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(21,505)	43,247
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt			473,362	685,079
Repayment of debt			(427,107)	(604,773)
Business acquisition related payments				(1,226)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			162
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise			(776)	(1,531)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			104,573	(96,181)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			150,214	(18,632)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(11,957)	(7,610)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year			75,087	88,995
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	63,130	81,385	63,130	81,385
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	5,209	26,896	14,691	38,515
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			15,333	25,077
Deferred income taxes				(4,736)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			(342)	427
Other long-term liabilities			98	(1,065)
Other non-cash items			(5,140)	5,182
Changes in other components of working capital			96,590	(104,577)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES			121,230	(41,177)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(29,516)	(10,015)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			22,627	1,906
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(101,660)
Change in restricted cash			339	(10)
NET CASH (USED BY) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(108,210)	(8,119)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt			128	32,405
Repayment of debt			(19,132)	(44,509)
Business acquisition related payments				(34)
Debt issuance costs				(3,681)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances				97,506
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(19,004)	81,687
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(5,984)	32,391
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year			36,764	18,031
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	30,780	50,422	30,780	50,422
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	1,377	4,852	3,835	8,514
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			137	135
Changes in other components of working capital			(16,294)	3,318
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(12,322)	11,967
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(28)
Change in restricted cash			4,538	(15,488)
NET CASH (USED BY) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES			4,510	(15,488)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(2,913)	(1,325)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(2,913)	(1,325)
Net (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			(10,725)	(4,846)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year			23,732	12,897
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 13,007	$ 8,051	$ 13,007	$ 8,051