Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 28,801	$ 19,677	$ 65,561	$ 36,580
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			47,295	30,959
Stock-based compensation expense			10,109	17,064
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(10)	(186)
Change in debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs			7,124	1,569
Deferred income taxes			(8,636)	6,366
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			300	(821)
Other long-term liabilities			(8,555)	(1,379)
Other non-cash items			(353)	(5,692)
Changes in other components of working capital			(18,669)	(63,786)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES			94,166	20,674
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(10,273)	(33,365)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			1,139	2,220
Change in restricted cash			(2,872)	5,798
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(12,006)	(25,347)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes			200,000
Proceeds from debt			1,003,092	672,719
Repayment of debt			(1,174,679)	(706,113)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			10	186
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise			(423)	(808)
Debt issuance costs			(14,868)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			13,132	(34,016)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			95,292	(38,689)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			75,452	135,583
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	170,744	96,894	170,744	96,894
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(32,052)	(4,186)	(75,474)	(22,712)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	32,052	4,186	75,474	22,712
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			64,502	127,690
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			64,502	127,690
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(64,502)	(127,690)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(64,502)	(127,690)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	28,801	19,677	65,561	36,580
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			20,747	6,710
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(32,052)	(4,186)	(75,474)	(22,712)
Stock-based compensation expense			10,109	17,064
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			(10)	(186)
Change in debt discount and deferred debt issuance costs			7,124	1,569
Deferred income taxes			(14,613)	(2,323)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			138	79
Other long-term liabilities			(2,032)	(1,480)
Other non-cash items			(1,107)	(4,856)
Changes in other components of working capital			(55,051)	(144,093)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(44,608)	(113,648)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(1,382)	(21,406)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			164
Change in restricted cash			108
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(1,110)	(21,406)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from issuance of convertible notes			200,000
Proceeds from debt			997,708	678,622
Repayment of debt			(1,141,186)	(679,353)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation			10	186
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise			(423)	(808)
Debt issuance costs			(14,868)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			43,899	125,636
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			85,140	124,283
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			39,422	(10,771)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			47,196	75,087
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	86,618	64,316	86,618	64,316
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	28,153	1,374	67,381	16,065
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			26,338	24,042
Deferred income taxes			5,977	10,450
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment			162	(900)
Other long-term liabilities			5,717	101
Other non-cash items			754	(836)
Changes in other components of working capital			50,106	114,658
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES			156,435	163,580
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases			(8,891)	(11,919)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment			975	2,220
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			(64,502)	(127,690)
Change in restricted cash			1,074	1,266
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(71,344)	(136,123)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt			5,384	(5,903)
Repayment of debt			(33,493)	(26,760)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			(28,109)	(32,663)
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			56,982	(5,206)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			26,892	36,764
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	83,874	31,558	83,874	31,558
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	3,899	2,812	8,093	6,647
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization			210	207
Deferred income taxes				(1,761)
Other long-term liabilities			(12,240)
Changes in other components of working capital			(13,724)	(34,351)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES			(17,661)	(29,258)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases				(40)
Change in restricted cash			(4,054)	4,532
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES			(4,054)	4,492
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances			20,603	2,054
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) FINANCING ACTIVITIES			20,603	2,054
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents			(1,112)	(22,712)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year			1,364	23,732
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 252	$ 1,020	$ 252	$ 1,020