Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 14,800	$ (1,203)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	13,793	15,790
Stock-based compensation expense	3,078	3,419
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Deferred income taxes	348	5,693
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(76)	(79)
Other non-cash items	(197)	767
Other long-term liabilities	1,851	214
Changes in other components of working capital	(118,052)	(52,602)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(84,455)	(25,038)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(12,179)	(10,649)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	239	3,968
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	(6,514)	(13)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(18,454)	9,324
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	293,014	98,500
Repayment of debt	(225,684)	(95,107)
Business acquisition related payments		(1,188)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(159)	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(10)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	67,171	1,888
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(35,738)	(13,826)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	168,056	204,240
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	132,318	190,414
Tutor Perini Corporation
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	14,800	(1,203)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	1,549	1,175
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(24,356)	(17,532)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,078	3,419
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Deferred income taxes	33	5,765
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
Gain on sale of property and equipment		23
Other non-cash items	1,366	322
Other long-term liabilities	1,803	840
Changes in other components of working capital	24,353	33,476
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	22,626	29,248
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(5,090)	(5,761)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	6
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	6,795	(6)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	1,711	10,786
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	293,650	98,500
Repayment of debt	(220,262)	(89,076)
Business acquisition related payments		(1,188)
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(159)	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(10)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(97,470)	(60,606)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(24,241)	(52,687)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	96	(12,653)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	64,663	134,936
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	64,759	122,283
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	22,047	15,299
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	12,176	14,547
Deferred income taxes	315	(72)
Gain on sale of property and equipment	(76)	(102)
Other non-cash items	(1,563)	445
Other long-term liabilities	48	(626)
Changes in other components of working capital	(141,988)	(92,750)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(109,041)	(63,259)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(7,089)	(4,888)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	233	3,968
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Change in restricted cash	(4)	(7)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(6,860)	(1,462)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	(636)
Repayment of debt	(5,422)	(6,031)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	96,123	59,340
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	90,065	53,309
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(25,836)	(11,412)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	74,385	52,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	48,549	41,080
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	2,309	2,233
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	68	68
Changes in other components of working capital	(417)	6,672
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	1,960	8,973
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(13,305)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(13,305)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	1,347	1,266
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	1,347	1,266
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(9,998)	10,239
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	29,008	16,812
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	19,010	27,051
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income (loss)	(24,356)	(17,532)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	$ 24,356	$ 17,532