Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	$ 1,246,599	$ 1,332,978	$ 1,308,130	$ 1,085,369	$ 1,200,830	$ 1,340,739	$ 1,312,438	$ 1,066,465	$ 4,973,076	$ 4,920,472	$ 4,492,309
COST OF OPERATIONS									(4,515,886)	(4,564,219)	(3,986,867)
GROSS PROFIT	117,660	124,668	109,770	105,092	66,673	100,201	98,620	90,759	457,190	356,253	505,442
General and administrative expenses									(255,270)	(250,840)	(263,752)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	52,050	60,919	48,829	40,122	15,474	38,974	30,881	20,084	201,920	105,413	241,690
Other income (expense), net									6,977	13,569	(8,217)
Interest expense									(59,782)	(45,143)	(46,035)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	38,685	47,926	35,780	26,724	11,687	33,955	19,992	8,205	149,115	73,839	187,438
Provision for Income Taxes									(53,293)	(28,547)	(79,502)
NET INCOME	$ 30,260	$ 28,801	$ 21,361	$ 15,400	$ 8,712	$ 19,677	$ 11,777	$ 5,126	95,822	45,292	107,936
Other Comprehensive Income:
Change in pension benefit plans assets/liabilities									(2,623)	2,026	(8,155)
Foreign currency translation									(261)	(3,214)	(638)
Change in fair value of investments									(340)	766	205
Change in fair value of interest rate swap									(24)	(125)	349
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(3,248)	(547)	(8,239)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									92,574	44,745	99,697
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE									(337,427)	(262,527)	(156,776)
COST OF OPERATIONS									337,427	262,527	156,776
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									(113,369)	(23,367)	(95,501)
Other income (expense), net									(1,211)
Interest expense									1,211
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									(113,369)	(23,367)	(95,501)
NET INCOME									(113,369)	(23,367)	(95,501)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other comprehensive income of subsidiaries									601	2,448	433
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax									601	2,448	433
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									(112,768)	(20,919)	(95,068)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE									977,298	1,064,723	959,010
COST OF OPERATIONS									(861,695)	(918,322)	(808,285)
GROSS PROFIT									115,603	146,401	150,725
General and administrative expenses									(85,014)	(77,806)	(80,151)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									30,589	68,595	70,574
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries									113,369	23,367	95,501
Other income (expense), net									892	9,271	(7,003)
Interest expense									(58,787)	(42,123)	(41,977)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									86,063	59,110	117,095
Provision for Income Taxes									9,759	(13,818)	(9,159)
NET INCOME									95,822	45,292	107,936
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other comprehensive income of subsidiaries									(601)	(2,448)	(433)
Change in pension benefit plans assets/liabilities									(2,623)	2,026	(8,155)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap									(24)	(125)	349
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(3,248)	(547)	(8,239)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									92,574	44,745	99,697
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE									4,316,658	4,104,871	3,690,075
COST OF OPERATIONS									(3,991,618)	(3,908,424)	(3,353,098)
GROSS PROFIT									325,040	196,447	336,977
General and administrative expenses									(168,394)	(171,153)	(181,714)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									156,646	25,294	155,263
Other income (expense), net									6,294	3,745	(1,705)
Interest expense									(2,206)	(3,020)	(4,058)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									160,734	26,019	149,500
Provision for Income Taxes									(57,446)	(10,060)	(63,411)
NET INCOME									103,288	15,959	86,089
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation									(261)	(3,214)	(638)
Change in fair value of investments									(340)	766	205
Total other comprehensive loss, net of tax									(601)	(2,448)	(433)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									102,687	13,511	85,656
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE									16,547	13,405
COST OF OPERATIONS											17,740
GROSS PROFIT									16,547	13,405	17,740
General and administrative expenses									(1,862)	(1,881)	(1,887)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS									14,685	11,524	15,853
Other income (expense), net									1,002	553	491
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES									15,687	12,077	16,344
Provision for Income Taxes									(5,606)	(4,669)	(6,932)
NET INCOME									10,081	7,408	9,412
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME									$ 10,081	$ 7,408	$ 9,412