Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (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
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$ 1,030,388	$ 1,099,393		$ 3,076,381	$ 2,997,273
Cost of Operations	909,531	983,930		2,749,212	2,708,590
Gross profit	120,857	115,463		327,169	288,683
General and Administrative Expenses	62,763	60,787		193,522	194,644
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment			376,600		376,574
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	58,094	54,676		133,647	(282,535)
Other Income (Expense), net	(9,488)	545		(13,549)	(681)
Interest Expense	(11,571)	(11,039)		(33,990)	(32,724)
Income (loss) before income taxes	37,035	44,182		86,108	(315,940)
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(13,276)	(1,591)		(32,071)	8,905
NET INCOME (LOSS)	23,759	42,591		54,037	(307,035)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability		(841)			(841)
Foreign currency translation	(393)	362		(622)	419
Change in fair value of investments	(274)	1		(525)	208
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	5	(177)		465	(1,196)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)					2,005
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(662)	(655)		(682)	595
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	23,097	41,936		53,355	(306,440)
Eliminations
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	(29,104)	(10,484)		(134,167)	(44,124)
Cost of Operations	(29,104)	(10,484)		(134,167)	(44,124)
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(32,148)	(49,135)		(80,944)	273,177
Income (loss) before income taxes	(32,148)	(49,135)		(80,944)	273,177
NET INCOME (LOSS)	(32,148)	(49,135)		(80,944)	273,177
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	667	(363)		1,147	(627)
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	667	(363)		1,147	(627)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(31,481)	(49,498)		(79,797)	272,550
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	175,160	113,068		456,732	276,633
Cost of Operations	150,560	97,225		398,072	242,954
Gross profit	24,600	15,843		58,660	33,679
General and Administrative Expenses	17,073	17,840		55,178	53,579
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	7,527	(1,997)		3,482	(19,900)
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	32,148	49,135		80,944	(273,177)
Other Income (Expense), net	(9,736)	45		(14,859)	(1,484)
Interest Expense	(10,655)	(10,133)		(31,500)	(29,817)
Income (loss) before income taxes	19,284	37,050		38,067	(324,378)
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	4,475	5,541		15,970	17,343
NET INCOME (LOSS)	23,759	42,591		54,037	(307,035)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(667)	363		(1,147)	627
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability		(841)			(841)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	5	(177)		465	(1,196)
Realized loss on sale of investments recorded in net income (loss)					2,005
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(662)	(655)		(682)	595
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	23,097	41,936		53,355	(306,440)
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	884,332	996,809		2,753,816	2,764,764
Cost of Operations	794,440	900,634		2,499,544	2,521,009
Gross profit	89,892	96,175		254,272	243,755
General and Administrative Expenses	45,187	42,417		136,895	139,465
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment					376,574
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	44,705	53,758		117,377	(272,284)
Other Income (Expense), net	115	264		926	119
Interest Expense	(916)	(906)		(2,490)	(2,907)
Income (loss) before income taxes	43,904	53,116		115,813	(275,072)
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(15,594)	(5,732)		(43,135)	(4,201)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	28,310	47,384		72,678	(279,273)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation	(393)	362		(622)	419
Change in fair value of investments	(274)	1		(525)	208
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(667)	363		(1,147)	627
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	27,643	47,747		71,531	(278,646)
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Cost of Operations	(6,365)	(3,445)		(14,237)	(11,249)
Gross profit	6,365	3,445		14,237	11,249
General and Administrative Expenses	503	530		1,449	1,600
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	5,862	2,915		12,788	9,649
Other Income (Expense), net	133	236		384	684
Income (loss) before income taxes	5,995	3,151		13,172	10,333
(Provision) Credit for Income Taxes	(2,157)	(1,400)		(4,906)	(4,237)
NET INCOME (LOSS)	3,838	1,751		8,266	6,096
Other Comprehensive Income:
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	$ 3,838	$ 1,751		$ 8,266	$ 6,096