The aggregate expense recognized in the current period that allocates the cost of tangible assets, intangible assets, or depleting assets to periods that benefit from use of the assets.

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Business Segments (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) segment $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment				3
Income from construction operations	$ 60,919		$ 38,974	$ 149,870	$ 89,939
Net income	$ 28,801		$ 19,677	$ 65,561	$ 36,580
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.57		$ 0.40	$ 1.32	$ 0.74
Depreciation and amortization				$ 47,295	$ 30,959
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	$ 9,769		$ 32,132	26,377	52,355
Net income	28,801		19,677	65,561	36,580
Depreciation and amortization				20,747	6,710
Building [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	13,296		6,763	38,969	(8,107)
Depreciation and amortization	500		600	1,600	2,100
Building [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations					$ 21,400
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares					$ 0.25
Civil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	50,307		43,183	129,028	$ 120,106
Depreciation and amortization	12,700		5,600	33,300	16,900
Civil [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations			$ 23,900
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0.28
Civil [Member] \| Scenario Favorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations			$ 13,700
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0.16
Specialty Contractors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	11,084		$ 4,741	25,910	29,008
Depreciation and amortization	1,200		1,400	3,800	4,100
Specialty Contractors [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations			$ 13,900
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares			$ 0.16
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	(13,768)		$ (15,713)	(44,037)	(51,068)
Depreciation and amortization	$ 2,900		$ 2,900	$ 8,600	$ 7,900
Completed Project [Member] \| Scenario Favorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations		$ 14,000
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 0.17
Substatially Completed Project [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment (b) [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations		$ 13,800
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 0.17
Five Star Electric [Member] \| Specialty Contractors [Member] \| Scenario Favorable Adjustment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations		$ 3,000
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares		$ 0.04