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, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 21,361	$ 11,777	$ 36,760	$ 16,903
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			29,956	20,389
Stock-based compensation expense			6,959	13,324
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation				(162)
Change in debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs			3,348	1,045
Deferred income taxes			(371)	(177)
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment			204	(313)
Other long-term liabilities			(3,811)	42
Other non-cash items			1,200	(3,259)
Changes in other components of working capital			(69,669)	(79,550)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES			4,576	(31,758)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(8,681)	(29,544)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			1,092	1,122
Change in restricted cash			(3,599)	4,877
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(11,188)	(23,545)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes			200,000
Proceeds from debt			711,092	473,490
Repayment of debt			(871,654)	(446,239)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation				162
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise				(776)
Debt issuance costs			(14,656)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			24,782	26,637
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			18,170	(28,666)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			75,452	135,583
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	93,622	106,917	93,622	106,917
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(20,343)	(6,586)	(43,422)	(18,526)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	20,343	6,586	43,422	18,526
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(71,487)	101,660
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(71,487)	101,660
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			71,487	(101,660)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			71,487	(101,660)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	21,361	11,777	36,760	16,903
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			12,244	4,919
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(20,343)	(6,586)	(43,422)	(18,526)
Stock-based compensation expense			6,959	13,324
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation				(162)
Change in debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs			3,348	1,045
Deferred income taxes			(261)	(177)
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment			138	29
Other long-term liabilities			(2,600)	(56)
Other non-cash items			(240)	1,881
Changes in other components of working capital			24,144	(159,846)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES			37,070	(140,666)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(1,410)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			164	(21,505)
Change in restricted cash			108
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(1,138)	(21,505)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes			200,000
Proceeds from debt			705,708	473,362
Repayment of debt			(846,019)	(427,107)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation				162
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise				(776)
Debt issuance costs			(14,656)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(71,417)	104,573
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(26,384)	150,214
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			9,548	(11,957)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			47,196	75,087
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	56,744	63,130	56,744	63,130
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	20,109	5,209	39,228	14,691
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			17,571	15,333
Deferred income taxes			(110)
Loss (gain) on sale of property and equipment			66	(342)
Other long-term liabilities			(966)	98
Other non-cash items			1,440	(5,140)
Changes in other components of working capital			(92,711)	96,590
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(35,482)	121,230
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(7,271)	(29,516)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			928	22,627
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			71,487	(101,660)
Change in restricted cash			325	339
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			65,469	(108,210)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt			5,384	128
Repayment of debt			(25,635)	(19,132)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(20,251)	(19,004)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			9,736	(5,984)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			26,892	36,764
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	36,628	30,780	36,628	30,780
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	234	1,377	4,194	3,835
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			141	137
Other long-term liabilities			(245)
Changes in other components of working capital			(1,102)	(16,294)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES			2,988	(12,322)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases				(28)
Change in restricted cash			(4,032)	4,538
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(4,032)	4,510
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(70)	(2,913)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(70)	(2,913)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(1,114)	(10,725)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			1,364	23,732
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 250	$ 13,007	$ 250	$ 13,007