Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	$ 1,332,978	$ 1,340,739	$ 3,726,477	$ 3,719,642
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,208,310)	(1,240,538)	(3,386,947)	(3,430,062)
GROSS PROFIT	124,668	100,201	339,530	289,580
General and administrative expenses	(63,749)	(61,227)	(189,660)	(199,641)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	60,919	38,974	149,870	89,939
Other income (expense), net	2,048	6,195	5,214	6,098
Interest Expense	(15,041)	(11,214)	(44,655)	(33,885)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	47,926	33,955	110,429	62,152
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(19,125)	(14,278)	(44,868)	(25,572)
NET INCOME	28,801	19,677	65,561	36,580
Other Comprehensive Income:
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	248		819
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(411)	(1,375)	261	(3,109)
Change in fair value of investments	(79)	(2)	(224)	(86)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap		47	(24)	152
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(242)	(1,330)	832	(3,043)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	28,559	18,347	66,393	33,537
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	(82,745)	(85,312)	(243,006)	(209,871)
COST OF OPERATIONS	82,745	85,312	243,006	209,871
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(32,052)	(4,186)	(75,474)	(22,712)
Other income (expense), net	(437)		(900)
Interest Expense	437		900
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(32,052)	(4,186)	(75,474)	(22,712)
NET INCOME	(32,052)	(4,186)	(75,474)	(22,712)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	490	1,377	(37)	3,195
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	490	1,377	(37)	3,195
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(31,562)	(2,809)	(75,511)	(19,517)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	267,285	309,777	692,144	855,286
COST OF OPERATIONS	(235,073)	(258,061)	(603,626)	(733,023)
GROSS PROFIT	32,212	51,716	88,518	122,263
General and administrative expenses	(22,443)	(19,584)	(62,141)	(69,908)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	9,769	32,132	26,377	52,355
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	32,052	4,186	75,474	22,712
Other income (expense), net	(185)	4,693	761	2,716
Interest Expense	(14,954)	(10,552)	(43,834)	(31,507)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	26,682	30,459	58,778	46,276
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	2,119	(10,782)	6,783	(9,696)
NET INCOME	28,801	19,677	65,561	36,580
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(490)	(1,377)	37	(3,195)
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	248		819
Change in fair value of interest rate swap		47	(24)	152
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(242)	(1,330)	832	(3,043)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	28,559	18,347	66,393	33,537
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	1,141,731	1,111,034	3,263,059	3,061,903
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,055,982)	(1,067,789)	(3,026,327)	(2,906,910)
GROSS PROFIT	85,749	43,245	236,732	154,993
General and administrative expenses	(40,843)	(41,171)	(126,118)	(128,322)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	44,906	2,074	110,614	26,671
Other income (expense), net	2,414	1,375	4,601	3,002
Interest Expense	(524)	(662)	(1,721)	(2,378)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	46,796	2,787	113,494	27,295
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(18,643)	(1,413)	(46,113)	(11,230)
NET INCOME	28,153	1,374	67,381	16,065
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(411)	(1,375)	261	(3,109)
Change in fair value of investments	(79)	(2)	(224)	(86)
Total other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(490)	(1,377)	37	(3,195)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	27,663	(3)	67,418	12,870
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	6,707	5,240	14,280	12,324
GROSS PROFIT	6,707	5,240	14,280	12,324
General and administrative expenses	(463)	(472)	(1,401)	(1,411)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	6,244	4,768	12,879	10,913
Other income (expense), net	256	127	752	380
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	6,500	4,895	13,631	11,293
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(2,601)	(2,083)	(5,538)	(4,646)
NET INCOME	3,899	2,812	8,093	6,647
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 3,899	$ 2,812	$ 8,093	$ 6,647