Business Segments (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Reportable segment information
Revenues	$ 1,030,388	$ 1,099,393		$ 3,076,381	$ 2,997,273
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					94,039
Impairment charge			(376,600)		(376,574)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	58,094	54,676		133,647	(282,535)
Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues	1,056,442	1,109,087		3,199,146	3,038,169
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					126,778
Impairment charge					(376,574)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	71,718	64,204		169,921	(249,796)
Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues	(26,054)	(9,694)		(122,765)	(40,896)
Building
Reportable segment information
Revenues	330,763	391,023		1,146,226	1,062,077
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					(2,537)
Impairment charge					(282,608)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	13,530	20,847		20,791	(285,145)
Building | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues	352,013	391,531		1,199,493	1,066,494
Building | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues	(21,250)	(508)		(53,267)	(4,417)
Civil
Reportable segment information
Revenues	375,495	346,340		929,890	919,409
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					68,884
Impairment charge					(65,503)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	47,532	26,280		98,285	3,381
Civil | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues	379,765	350,542		995,963	928,203
Civil | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues	(4,270)	(4,202)		(66,073)	(8,794)
Specialty Contractors
Reportable segment information
Revenues	287,633	315,270		873,536	858,610
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					53,852
Impairment charge					(11,489)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	9,312	14,236		44,583	42,363
Specialty Contractors | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues	287,633	315,270		873,546	858,843
Specialty Contractors | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues				(10)	(233)
Management Services
Reportable segment information
Revenues	36,497	46,760		126,729	157,177
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					6,579
Impairment charge					(16,974)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	1,344	2,841		6,262	(10,395)
Management Services | Operating segment
Reportable segment information
Revenues	37,031	51,744		130,144	184,629
Management Services | Intersegment elimination
Reportable segment information
Revenues	(534)	(4,984)		(3,415)	(27,452)
Corporate
Income from construction operations
Before impairment charge					(32,739)
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	$ (13,624)	$ (9,528)		$ (36,274)	$ (32,739)