Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	$ 54,037	$ (307,035)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	41,766	46,676
Stock-based compensation expense	6,597	7,424
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(356)
Deferred income taxes	(503)	(42,008)
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(220)	509
Other non-cash items	444	(446)
Other long-term liabilities	17,877	(8,399)
Changes in other components of working capital	(130,700)	(104,135)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(11,058)	(27,877)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(39,810)	(33,737)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,551	11,750
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	(8,749)	(3,263)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(46,008)	(9,232)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	571,285	511,579
Repayment of debt	(536,227)	(485,543)
Business acquisition related payments	(17,716)	(10,090)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	356
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(786)	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(1,993)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	16,912	13,646
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(40,154)	(23,463)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	168,056	204,240
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	127,902	180,777
Eliminations
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	(80,944)	273,177
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	80,944	(273,177)
Tutor Perini Corporation | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	54,037	(307,035)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	5,341	3,815
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries	(80,944)	273,177
Stock-based compensation expense	6,597	7,424
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	(356)
Deferred income taxes	(549)	(37,810)
Adjustment of interest rate swap to fair value		264
Loss on sale of investments		2,699
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment	(220)
Other non-cash items	1,468	(524)
Other long-term liabilities	18,723	(5,826)
Changes in other components of working capital	34,877	62,007
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	38,974	(1,809)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(19,189)	(12,332)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	222	500
Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale securities		16,553
Change in restricted cash	6,780	(3,241)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(12,187)	1,480
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	541,544	531,618
Repayment of debt	(513,912)	(486,426)
Business acquisition related payments	(17,716)	(10,090)
Excess income tax benefit from stock-based compensation	356
Issuance of common stock and effect of cashless exercise	(786)	(307)
Debt issuance costs		(1,993)
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(20,104)	(73,471)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(10,618)	(40,669)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	16,169	(40,998)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	64,663	134,936
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	80,832	93,938
Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	72,678	(279,273)
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Goodwill and intangible asset impairment		376,574
Depreciation and amortization	36,222	42,657
Deferred income taxes	46	(4,198)
(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment		509
Other non-cash items	(1,024)	78
Other long-term liabilities	(846)	(2,573)
Changes in other components of working capital	(123,003)	(180,925)
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(15,927)	(47,151)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Acquisition of property and equipment	(20,621)	(21,405)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	2,329	11,250
Investments in available-for-sale securities		(535)
Change in restricted cash	186	(22)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(18,106)	(10,712)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Proceeds from debt	29,741	(20,039)
Repayment of debt	(22,315)	883
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	(19,966)	74,831
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	(12,540)	55,675
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(46,573)	(2,188)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	74,385	52,492
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	27,812	50,304
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable legal entity
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net (loss) income	8,266	6,096
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash from operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	203	204
Changes in other components of working capital	(42,574)	14,783
NET CASH USED IN OPERATING ACTIVITIES	(34,105)	21,083
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Change in restricted cash	(15,715)
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES	(15,715)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Increase (decrease) in intercompany advances	40,070	(1,360)
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES	40,070	(1,360)
Net Decrease in Cash and Cash Equivalents	(9,750)	19,723
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year	29,008	16,812
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period	$ 19,258	$ 36,535