Business Segments (Narrative) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) segment $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) contract $ / shares
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Income from construction operations	$ 37,017	$ 40,122
Net income	$ 13,764	$ 15,400
DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE (in dollars per share) \| $ / shares	$ 0.27	$ 0.31
Depreciation and amortization	$ 20,996	$ 14,496
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	185	778
Net income	13,764	15,400
Depreciation and amortization	11,975	5,626
Building [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	5,242	12,450
Civil [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	31,888	33,665
Specialty Contractors [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	14,762	9,413
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Income from construction operations	$ (14,875)	(15,406)
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
Five Star Electric Subcontract [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of projects \| contract		2
Five Star Electric Subcontract [Member] \| Scenario Unfavorable Adjustment [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 Subcontract [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

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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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