Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2016
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 13,764	$ 15,400
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	20,996	14,496
Share-based compensation expense	4,306	3,647
Change in debt discounts and deferred debt issuance costs	3,836	1,687
Deferred income taxes	(526)	(155)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(131)	285
Other long-term liabilities	(1,824)	(4,061)
Other non-cash items	267	1,399
Changes in other components of working capital	(73,533)	(15,067)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(32,845)	15,944
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(5,672)	(4,812)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	259	939
Change in restricted cash	(9,654)	(3,305)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,067)	(7,178)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	313,977	299,785
Repayment of debt	(296,485)	(287,484)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(10,809)
Debt issuance costs	(57)	(5,937)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	6,626	6,364
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(41,286)	15,130
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	146,103	75,452
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	104,817	90,582
Eliminations [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(23,529)	(23,079)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	23,529	23,079
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(74,626)	(24,653)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(74,626)	(24,653)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	74,626	24,653
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	74,626	24,653
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	13,764	15,400
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	11,975	5,626
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(23,529)	(23,079)
Share-based compensation expense	3,956	3,647
Change in debt discounts and deferred debt issuance costs	50,636
Deferred income taxes	(614)	(153)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment		202
Other long-term liabilities	(4,105)	(3,822)
Other non-cash items	461	(90)
Changes in other components of working capital	30,668	12,879
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	83,212	10,610
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(155)	(1,282)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment		75
Change in restricted cash	(1)	109
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(156)	(1,098)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	319,977	299,785
Repayment of debt	(292,087)	(276,202)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(10,905)
Debt issuance costs	(46,857)	(5,937)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(77,246)	(24,628)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(107,118)	(6,982)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(24,062)	2,530
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	80,829	47,196
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	56,767	49,726
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	19,378	19,119
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	8,820	8,800
Share-based compensation expense	350
Change in debt discounts and deferred debt issuance costs	(46,800)
Deferred income taxes	88	(2)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(131)	83
Other long-term liabilities	62	(954)
Other non-cash items	(194)	1,489
Changes in other components of working capital	(105,124)	(25,578)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(123,551)	2,957
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment excluding financed purchases	(5,517)	(3,530)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	259	864
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	74,626	24,653
Change in restricted cash	371	(403)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	69,739	21,584
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	(6,000)
Repayment of debt	(4,398)	(11,282)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	96
Debt issuance costs	46,800
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	36,498	(11,282)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(17,314)	13,259
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	65,079	26,892
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	47,765	40,151
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	4,151	3,960
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	201	70
Other long-term liabilities	2,219	715
Changes in other components of working capital	923	(2,368)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES	7,494	2,377
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(10,024)	(3,011)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(10,024)	(3,011)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	2,620	(25)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	2,620	(25)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	90	(659)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	195	1,364
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 285	$ 705