Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 15,400	$ 5,126
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	14,496	10,594
Stock-based compensation expense	3,647	9,159
Deferred income taxes	(155)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	285	(276)
Other long-term liabilities	(4,061)	2,381
Other non-cash items	1,399	(2,227)
Changes in other components of working capital	(15,067)	(27,081)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	15,944	(2,324)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(4,812)	(5,691)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	939	798
Change in restricted cash	(3,305)	277
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(7,178)	(4,616)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	299,785	280,200
Repayment of debt	(287,484)	(262,112)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise		(773)
Debt issuance costs	(5,937)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	6,364	17,315
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	15,130	10,375
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	75,452	135,583
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	90,582	145,958
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(23,079)	(11,940)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	23,079	11,940
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(24,653)	57,146
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(24,653)	57,146
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	24,653	(57,146)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	24,653	(57,146)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	15,400	5,126
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,626	5,223
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(23,079)	(11,940)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,647	9,159
Deferred income taxes	(153)	(24,392)
(Gain) loss on sale of investments		(17)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	202	17
Other long-term liabilities	(3,822)	(1,288)
Other non-cash items	(90)	1,176
Changes in other components of working capital	12,879	(73,266)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	10,610	(90,202)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(1,282)	(729)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	75
Change in restricted cash	109
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(1,098)	(729)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	299,785	280,200
Repayment of debt	(276,202)	(252,748)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise		(773)
Debt issuance costs	(5,937)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(24,628)	61,103
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(6,982)	87,782
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	2,530	(3,149)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	47,196	75,087
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	49,726	71,938
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	19,119	9,482
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,800	5,303
Deferred income taxes	(2)	24,392
(Gain) loss on sale of investments		17
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	83	(293)
Other long-term liabilities	(954)	3,669
Other non-cash items	1,489	(3,403)
Changes in other components of working capital	(25,578)	43,701
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,957	82,868
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(3,530)	(4,962)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	864	798
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	24,653	(57,146)
Change in restricted cash	(403)	283
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	21,584	(61,027)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayment of debt	(11,282)	(9,364)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(11,282)	(9,364)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	13,259	12,477
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	26,892	36,764
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	40,151	49,241
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	3,960	2,458
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	70	68
Other long-term liabilities	715
Changes in other components of working capital	(2,368)	2,484
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES	2,377	5,010
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(3,011)	(6)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(3,011)	(6)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(25)	(3,957)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(25)	(3,957)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	(659)	1,047
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	1,364	23,732
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 705	$ 24,779