Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 30,278	$ (349,626)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	27,566	32,106
Stock-based compensation expense	4,624	5,074
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(358)
Deferred income taxes	500	(42,421)
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(180)	530
Other non-cash items	(111)	253
Other long-term liabilities	8,449	(4,006)
Changes in other components of working capital	(109,338)	(53,314)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(38,570)	(31,867)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(28,127)	(21,788)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,359	9,614
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	(8,302)	(3,247)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(34,070)	597
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	421,550	306,582
Repayment of debt	(374,987)	(290,917)
Business acquisition related payments		(2,932)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	358
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	341	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(10)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	47,262	12,416
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(25,378)	(18,854)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	168,056	204,240
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	142,678	185,386
Tutor Perini Corporation
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	30,278	(349,626)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	3,230	2,130
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(48,796)	322,312
Stock-based compensation expense	4,624	5,074
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(358)
Deferred income taxes	235	(38,696)
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(180)
Other non-cash items	864	58
Other long-term liabilities	9,204	(1,483)
Changes in other components of working capital	41,842	55,269
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	40,943	(1,999)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(16,299)	(8,500)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	186	304
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	6,795	(3,231)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(9,318)	5,126
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	395,365	306,538
Repayment of debt	(363,252)	(277,668)
Business acquisition related payments		(2,932)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	358
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	341	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(10)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(39,004)	(25,344)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(6,192)	277
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	25,433	3,404
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	64,663	134,936
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	90,096	138,340
Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	44,368	(326,657)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	24,201	29,840
Deferred income taxes	265	(3,725)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment		530
Other non-cash items	(975)	195
Other long-term liabilities	(755)	(2,523)
Changes in other components of working capital	(111,153)	(120,604)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(44,049)	(46,370)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(11,828)	(13,288)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,173	9,310
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Change in restricted cash	612	(16)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(9,043)	(4,529)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	26,185	44
Repayment of debt	(11,735)	(13,249)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	1,023	28,037
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	15,473	14,832
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(37,619)	(36,067)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	74,385	52,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	36,766	16,425
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	4,428	4,345
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	135	136
Changes in other components of working capital	(40,027)	12,021
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(35,464)	16,502
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(15,709)
NET CASH (USED IN) PROVIDED BY INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,709)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	37,981	(2,693)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	37,981	(2,693)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(13,192)	13,809
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	29,008	16,812
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	15,816	30,621
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	(48,796)	322,312
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	$ 48,796	$ (322,312)