Separate Financial Information of Subsidiary Guarantors of Indebtedness, Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	$ 1,066,465	$ 955,233
Cost of Operations	975,706	849,886
Gross profit	90,759	105,347
General and Administrative Expenses	70,675	63,850
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	20,084	41,497
Other (Expense) Income, net	(754)	(3,373)
Interest Expense	(11,125)	(10,831)
Income before income taxes	8,205	27,293
Credit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(3,079)	(11,354)
NET INCOME	5,126	15,939
Other Comprehensive Income:
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability
Foreign currency translation	(588)	(286)
Change in fair value of investments	(10)	181
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	45	81
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(553)	(24)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	4,573	15,915
Eliminations [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	(59,221)	(35,250)
Cost of Operations	(59,221)	(35,250)
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	(11,940)	(15,281)
Income before income taxes	(11,940)	(15,281)
NET INCOME	(11,940)	(15,281)
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	598	105
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	598	105
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	(11,342)	(15,176)
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	11,940	15,281
NET INCOME	5,126	15,939
Tutor Perini Corporation [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	236,292	226,847
Cost of Operations	209,833	193,814
Gross profit	26,459	33,033
General and Administrative Expenses	25,035	17,795
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	1,424	15,238
Equity in Earnings of Subsidiaries	11,940	15,281
Other (Expense) Income, net	(2,068)	(4,095)
Interest Expense	(10,264)	(10,017)
Income before income taxes	1,032	16,407
Credit (Provision) for Income Taxes	4,094	(468)
NET INCOME	5,126	15,939
Other Comprehensive Income:
Other Comprehensive Income of Subsidiaries	(598)	(105)
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	45	81
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(553)	(24)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	4,573	15,915
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
NET INCOME	9,482	11,619
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	885,103	763,636
Cost of Operations	825,094	697,908
Gross profit	60,009	65,728
General and Administrative Expenses	45,166	45,620
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	14,843	20,108
Other (Expense) Income, net	1,196	602
Interest Expense	(861)	(814)
Income before income taxes	15,178	19,896
Credit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(5,696)	(8,277)
NET INCOME	9,482	11,619
Other Comprehensive Income:
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability
Foreign currency translation	(588)	(286)
Change in fair value of investments	(10)	181
NET OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)	(598)	(105)
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	8,884	11,514
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
NET INCOME	2,458	3,662
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member] | Reportable Legal Entity [Member]
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
Revenues	4,291
Cost of Operations		(6,586)
Gross profit	4,291	6,586
General and Administrative Expenses	474	435
INCOME FROM CONSTRUCTION OPERATIONS	3,817	6,151
Other (Expense) Income, net	118	120
Income before income taxes	3,935	6,271
Credit (Provision) for Income Taxes	(1,477)	(2,609)
NET INCOME	2,458	3,662
Other Comprehensive Income:
Tax adjustment on minimum pension liability
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME	$ 2,458	$ 3,662