Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	$ 1,308,130	$ 1,312,438	$ 2,393,499	$ 2,378,903
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,198,360)	(1,213,818)	(2,178,637)	(2,189,524)
GROSS PROFIT	109,770	98,620	214,862	189,379
General and administrative expenses	(60,941)	(67,739)	(125,911)	(138,414)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	48,829	30,881	88,951	50,965
Other (Expense) Income, net	2,485	379	3,166	(97)
Interest Expense	(15,534)	(11,268)	(29,614)	(22,671)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	35,780	19,992	62,503	28,197
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(14,419)	(8,215)	(25,743)	(11,294)
NET INCOME	21,361	11,777	36,760	16,903
Other Comprehensive Income:
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	324		571
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(258)	(1,146)	672	(1,734)
Change in fair value of investments	(153)	(74)	(145)	(84)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	11	60	(24)	105
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(76)	(1,160)	1,074	(1,713)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	21,285	10,617	37,834	15,190
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	(75,440)	(65,338)	(160,261)	(124,559)
COST OF OPERATIONS	75,440	65,338	160,261	124,559
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(20,343)	(6,586)	(43,422)	(18,526)
Other (Expense) Income, net	(463)		(463)
Interest Expense	463		463
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(20,343)	(6,586)	(43,422)	(18,526)
NET INCOME	(20,343)	(6,586)	(43,422)	(18,526)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	411	1,220	(527)	1,818
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	411	1,220	(527)	1,818
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(19,932)	(5,366)	(43,949)	(16,708)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	248,134	309,217	424,859	545,509
COST OF OPERATIONS	(214,264)	(265,129)	(368,553)	(474,962)
GROSS PROFIT	33,870	44,088	56,306	70,547
General and administrative expenses	(18,040)	(25,289)	(39,698)	(50,324)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	15,830	18,799	16,608	20,223
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	20,343	6,586	43,422	18,526
Other (Expense) Income, net	1,568	(187)	946	(1,977)
Interest Expense	(15,396)	(10,413)	(28,880)	(20,955)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	22,345	14,785	32,096	15,817
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(984)	(3,008)	4,664	1,086
NET INCOME	21,361	11,777	36,760	16,903
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(411)	(1,220)	527	(1,818)
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	324		571
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	11	60	(24)	105
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(76)	(1,160)	1,074	(1,713)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	21,285	10,617	37,834	15,190
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,134,967	1,065,766	2,121,328	1,950,869
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,059,536)	(1,014,027)	(1,970,345)	(1,839,121)
GROSS PROFIT	75,431	51,739	150,983	111,748
General and administrative expenses	(42,438)	(41,985)	(85,275)	(87,151)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	32,993	9,754	65,708	24,597
Other (Expense) Income, net	1,127	431	2,187	1,627
Interest Expense	(601)	(855)	(1,197)	(1,716)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	33,519	9,330	66,698	24,508
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(13,410)	(4,121)	(27,470)	(9,817)
NET INCOME	20,109	5,209	39,228	14,691
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(258)	(1,146)	672	(1,734)
Change in fair value of investments	(153)	(74)	(145)	(84)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(411)	(1,220)	527	(1,818)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	19,698	3,989	39,755	12,873
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	469	2,793	7,573	7,084
GROSS PROFIT	469	2,793	7,573	7,084
General and administrative expenses	(463)	(465)	(938)	(939)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	6	2,328	6,635	6,145
Other (Expense) Income, net	253	135	496	253
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	259	2,463	7,131	6,398
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(25)	(1,086)	(2,937)	(2,563)
NET INCOME	234	1,377	4,194	3,835
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 234	$ 1,377	$ 4,194	$ 3,835