Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	$ 1,117,361	$ 1,085,369
COST OF OPERATIONS	(1,014,641)	(980,277)
GROSS PROFIT	102,720	105,092
General and administrative expenses	(65,703)	(64,970)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	37,017	40,122
Other income (expense), net	417	682
Interest Expense	(15,564)	(14,080)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	21,870	26,724
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(8,106)	(11,324)
NET INCOME	13,764	15,400
Other Comprehensive Income:
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	268	247
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(54)	930
Change in fair value of investments	(21)	8
Change in fair value of interest rate swap		(35)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	193	1,150
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	13,957	16,550
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	(134,762)	(84,821)
COST OF OPERATIONS	134,762	84,821
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(23,529)	(23,079)
Other income (expense), net	(345)
Interest Expense	345
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	(23,529)	(23,079)
NET INCOME	(23,529)	(23,079)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	75	(938)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	75	(938)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(23,454)	(24,017)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	246,011	176,725
COST OF OPERATIONS	(223,588)	(154,289)
GROSS PROFIT	22,423	22,436
General and administrative expenses	(22,238)	(21,658)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	185	778
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	23,529	23,079
Other income (expense), net	(252)	(621)
Interest Expense	(15,451)	(13,484)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	8,011	9,752
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	5,753	5,648
NET INCOME	13,764	15,400
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(75)	938
Defined benefit pension plan adjustments	268	247
Change in fair value of interest rate swap		(35)
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	193	1,150
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	13,957	16,550
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	999,356	986,361
COST OF OPERATIONS	(925,815)	(910,809)
GROSS PROFIT	73,541	75,552
General and administrative expenses	(42,998)	(42,837)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	30,543	32,715
Other income (expense), net	707	1,060
Interest Expense	(458)	(596)
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	30,792	33,179
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(11,414)	(14,060)
NET INCOME	19,378	19,119
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(54)	930
Change in fair value of investments	(21)	8
Total other comprehensive income, net of tax	(75)	938
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	19,303	20,057
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
REVENUE	6,756	7,104
GROSS PROFIT	6,756	7,104
General and administrative expenses	(467)	(475)
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	6,289	6,629
Other income (expense), net	307	243
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES	6,596	6,872
Benefit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(2,445)	(2,912)
NET INCOME	4,151	3,960
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 4,151	$ 3,960